Bombay HC tasks SNGP with deciding adequacy of 1 artificial pond for Ganapati visarjan at Aarey

Bombay High Court/ File Photo

The Bombay High Court has instructed the monitoring committee of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) to determine whether a single artificial pond at Aarey Colony would suffice for the immersion of Ganpati idols, emphasizing the intention to respect religious sentiments. A division bench, comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor, has proposed that if the committee deems it necessary, additional artificial ponds can be arranged.

According to a report in PTI, the court stated, "All these are matters to be considered by experts. What would suffice...whether it is one artificial pond or six or a truck-mounted tank or 10 is up to the monitoring committee." Chief Justice Upadhyaya emphasized, "The endeavour is to not hurt anybody's religious feelings...We will ask the committee to consider and take an appropriate decision. If one pond is adequate, then fine, if not, then we are only saying that arrangements can be made."

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This development stems from an application filed by a leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) seeking permission for the immersion of Ganpati idols in the lakes of Aarey Colony. However, the CEO of Aarey Colony had denied permission for such immersions this year.

During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel, Anil Singh, informed the court that the monitoring committee had convened a meeting and decided to establish an artificial pond within Aarey for immersion, which has been taking place since last Wednesday. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has also supplied six truck-mounted tanks for the immersion process, as disclosed by senior counsel Milind Sathe, representing the civic body, the report further stated.

Nevertheless, Singh argued that one pond may not suffice given the number of idols scheduled for immersion. He pointed out that last year, in addition to permissions for lake immersions, seven artificial ponds were created. The current request, however, is not for lake immersion but for the provision of additional artificial ponds to accommodate the religious practices.

The CEO of Aarey had informed the HC about the denial of permission in the waterbodies within the colony during the hearing of a Public interest litigation filed by non-governmental organisation Vanashakti seeking directions to the BMC to stop Ganapati idol immersion in three water bodies - Chhota Kashmir lake, Ganesh Mandir lake and Kamal lake - in Aarey.