India, July 25 -- In a major step towards promoting environmentally responsible Ganeshotsav celebrations, the Bombay High Court on Thursday made it mandatory for all Ganesh idols-whether made of clay or Plaster of Paris (PoP)-measuring up to six feet in height to be immersed in artificial ponds provided by municipal corporations and local bodies across Maharashtra.

The order came a day after the state government informed the court that it had already made immersion in artificial tanks compulsory for idols up to five feet tall. Expanding the mandate, the bench of chief justice Alok Aradhe and justice Sandeep Marne observed, "We have to make an endeavour that the impact of immersion of idols is bare minimum on the environment. Therefore, i...