Failing to keep their promise even on the second deadline set by its roads department, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has blamed intermittent rains for past two days as the reason for the potholes in the city.
On Friday, when the coordination committee received unsatisfactory response from the BMC, office bearers of the committee said that the municipal commissioner has promised that the civic body would ensure that the contractor works overnight and complete the work until Sunday.
With just about nine days left for Ganeshotsav, the committee members have asked the mandals to do recce the routes from where the idols will be brought to the pandals and take necessary precaution rather than depending on the BMC to resolve the issue of potholes.
On August 21, BMC had sought an extension of the deadline and asked the Ganeshotsav Coordination Committee to give time until August 26. However, on Friday, an embarrassed BMC had to once again give assurance of filling potholes and that too with the promise that the work will be done overnight.
Naresh Dahibawkar, chairman of Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti, said: "We cannot depend on BMC and delay the bringing of idols. I received the complaint from Nanachowk on Friday. I have asked them to do recce the route through which the idols need to be brought to pandals and take necessary precaution. We have no choice but to ask mandals to carry gunny bags and metal sheets to be placed under the tyre wherever potholes are spotted. It is a bad omen if the idol is damaged while arriving or going for visarjan," said Dahibawkar.
"Where are the elected representatives at the time of need? They are needed to coordinate with BMC and get the work done. But the same is not happening," added Dahibawkar.
Suresh Sarnobat, secretary of Akhil Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mahasangh, said that they have excused themselves by giving the reason that rain is playing spoilsport. "Now, we don't know what to do. The municipal commissioner and the roads department has promised that the potholes will be filled overnight. We are waiting for that to happen. This Sunday most of the big mandals have to get their idols. But we can only request the civic body. What else can we do?" said Sarnobat.
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