Month ahead of Ganeshotsav, BMC convenes meeting with pandal organisers

This year, the 10-day long Ganeshotsav festivities will commence from September 7.

Ganeshotsav, Ganpati Utsav, ganesh chaturthi, BMC meeting with pandal organisers, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Ganeshotsav organisers, Lord Ganesh festivities, Ganesh mandal organisers,

Besides this, the BMC has also taken up the cudgels to distribute free Shadu clay (clay) to Ganpati idol sculptors, of which over 500 tonnes has already been distributed. (File Photo)

Officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday, along with Mumbai sub-urban guardian minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, convened a meeting with representatives of Ganeshotsav organisers, who raised several concerns pertaining to the smooth conduct of the festivities as well as opposed the conditions laid down by the civic body for the five-year blanket approval for Ganesh mandal organisers.

With the online registration facility commencing on Tuesday, the BMC also announced that this year, the locations of the artificial ponds created for immersion will be plotted on the Google maps in a bid to push for eco-friendly festivities.

From concerns ranging from the removal of dangling overhead cables which affect the procession of Ganpati idols to the inspection of sweets distributed during the festivities, the organising committees raised an array of issues with the minister and the senior civic officials.

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During the course of the meeting, organisers also raised concerns over the civic plan to grant five-year blanket permissions, stating that most pandals have faced some issue or the other in the past 10 years. Earlier this week, the civic body had announced that, in a first, five-year permissions will be issued to the Ganpati mandals who have been found adhering to the government norms for the past 10 years.

“The BMC is calling for the rules to be followed for 10 years at least. But many mandals have knowingly or unknowingly violated some rule in the past 10 years.

Several mandals, who undertake social work throughout the years, have faced some issues or have been fined under some ambit or the other such as potholes, noise decibels etc. We have requested them to lift these conditions and grant us the five-year approvals,” said Naresh Dahibavkar of Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti (BSGSS), the body representing the Sarvajanik Ganpati mandals of Mumbai.

Furthermore, the committee has also demanded a 50 per cent concession for the pandals constructed on civic grounds.

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Meanwhile, in its push for more environment-friendly festivities, the BMC on Tuesday said artificial ponds being constructed for immersion will be marked on Google maps, enabling citizens to identify the nearest pond and avail the facility. Details pertaining to the artificial ponds will also be made available through QR codes, that will be situated in proximity to Ganeshotsav pandals.

Besides this, the BMC has also taken up the cudgels to distribute free Shadu clay (clay) to Ganpati idol sculptors, of which over 500 tonnes has already been distributed.

This year, the 10-day long Ganeshotsav festivities will commence from September 7.

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