BMC does a U-turn, gives nod for Mahim food festival

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has finally given permission to the Koli community to stage their annual festival on the Mahim coastline. BMC had earlier refused to give its nod for the festival.

Read earlier report: http://www.iamin.in/en/mumbai-north-west/news/bmc-denies-permission-koli-festival-mahim-50503

The G/North ward office had earlier refused to grant permission for the seafood festival, citing cleanliness issues along the Mahim coastline. The food event which aims at promoting the socio-cultural aspects of the Koli community of Mahim, ran into a roadblock after a similar food festival was organised in Versova, almost a month ago. Abhijit Patil, president, Worli-Mahim Koli-Agri Sangh talking to iamin said that the members of Mahim Fishermen Association and Nakwa Sangh were always confident of getting the required municipal approvals and since they have got the approval, the festival will be staged as it used to be. 

The event jointly organised by the Mahim Fishermen Association, Nakwa Sangh and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) will be open for public from February 13 to 15, at Mahim beach. 

Meanwhile, former MLA of MNS, Nitin Sardesai, who has been the face of the three-day fest for the last four years, said that no political pressure was used by his party to secure municipal permission. 

For the longer version of the report, click here