The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), on August 18, 2025, notified regarding the Standard Operating Procedure SOP for Idol immersion.
The following has been stated namely:-
• It states that based on point no. 17 of these guidelines, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has developed a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), which is as follows:
• Local self-governing bodies are required to maintain a register during idol immersions. Citizens and public mandals must provide necessary information regarding idol immersion in this register, which will follow the format in Annexure-1.
• Local bodies should establish dedicated units to collect information about idols from public mandals and prepare an immersion plan accordingly.
• Artificial ponds of appropriate size should be constructed at various locations. Household idols and PoP idols less than six feet in height must only be immersed in these artificial ponds. Local bodies are responsible for overseeing this process and ensuring that PoP idols under six feet are not immersed in natural water bodies.
Detailed notification is attached below.
[Notification no. MPRNI / SS (JPRNI) / 250818-FTS-0304]
