Thane-based green activist, Rohit Joshi has sent a notice to the Maharashtra government alleging that despite the directives issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on May 12, 2020, prohibiting the use of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols and mandating immersion in artificial tanks only, thousands of PoP idols have been installed and are being immersed directly into natural water bodies.

Joshi is also the petitioner in Public Interest Litigation (PIL) No. 96 of 2024, which is related to PoP idols and the immersion issue. The environmentalist has written to the secretary of the Environment Department, the principal secretary of Urban Development Department-2, commissioner of police (Thane), municipal commissioner of Thane, the BMC commissioner, the collector of Mumbai city, the collector of Mumbai suburbs and all other collectors in Maharashtra, along with Maharashtra Pollution Control Board officials.