India, June 10 -- The Bombay High Court on Monday modified its January 2025 order that had imposed a blanket ban on the manufacture and sale of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols. While the court has now allowed the manufacturing and sale of PoP idols to resume, it made it clear that such idols cannot be immersed in natural water bodies.

A division bench of chief justice Alok Aradhe and justice Sandeep Marne was hearing a public interest litigation filed in view of the upcoming Ganesh festival, seeking enforcement of the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) revised guidelines that prohibit the manufacture of PoP idols.

The petitioners argued that despite the CPCB's directives, many manufacturers continued to produce PoP idols in violation...