The move has put Sena in a quandary, for even as it risks earning the wrath of motorists and the general public, it cannot be seen as opposing Ganesh mandals.
Ganesh mandals can now leave the potholes they have dug up without filling. After creating a vertical split in the Ganesh mandals' coordination committee by appointing 'own man' Suresh Sarnobat as its chief, the BJP, in its one-upmanship with Shiv Sena, has got the chief minister to waive the fine of Rs 2,000 the mandals will have to pay for every pothole they have created.
The move has put Sena in a quandary, for even as it risks earning the wrath of motorists and the general public, it cannot be seen as opposing Ganesh mandals.
On Tuesday, BJP-promoted Akhil Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mahasangh approached chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and requested him to waive the fine imposed by the BMC. Ashish Shelar, BJP's Mumbai unit president who led the delegation to CM's residence, said the CM has assured to do away with the pothole fine. "The CM said that he will speak to municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta regarding this," said Sarnobat.
The delegation also urged the CM to drop all police cases against the mandals and granting of permission to mandals to use loudspeakers up to 12 in the night during the festival days. When asked how can mandals take citizens for granted and dig roads constructed with public money, Sarnobat said that mandals will repair the roads. "If the CM orders the municipal commissioner, then BMC will have to waive the fine," he added.
Meanwhile, the BMC has asked the coordination committee to ensure that all the mandals raising pandals above 30 feet for Ganesh festival, that starts on September 5, submit structural stability certificate to avoid any action.
Naresh Dahibawkar, president of Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti, which is close to Shiv Sena, said they have requested the municipal commissioner to reduce the fine amount. "Most of the Ganesh pandals will be over 30 feet in height and so can't avoid digging holes for safety reasons," said Dahibawkar adding that "We have asked all the mandals to withhold 20% of money they have agreed upon with the contractors."
"The onus of filling up potholes and re-topping the roads will be on the contractors. But if they fail to do repairs, the withheld money could be used to get the work done," he argued.
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