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Kala Ghoda festival should not inconvenience locals: Bombay High Court to organisers

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The Bombay high court on Wednesday suggested that the organisers of the Kala Ghoda festival, scheduled for February next year, should plan the event carefully so that locals are not inconvenienced and overcrowding does not pose a security risk in the area.

Locals complain of nuisance, security risks
A division bench of Justices V M Kanade and Revati Mohite Dhere made the observations while hearing a petition filed by local resident Berges Malu complaining about the nuisance and safety risks faced by those living in the vicinity during the festival. The bench stated that the people of Mumbai are very tolerant, and only approach the courts when there is a serious matter at hand.

Decongest K Dubash Marg, says HC
The bench directed the Kala Ghoda Association, which organises the festival, to work out a solution to the grievances raised by locals and look to decongest K Dubash Marg, where the festival takes place. It also observed that hawkers and slum dwellers encroach on public land during the event, leaving no space for citizens to move about.

Committee had raised law and order concerns
A monitoring committee appointed by the HC to review the festival had earlier had raised the security and public order issue in addition to other problems faced by local residents like traffic, cleanliness and hygiene. The committee comprised joint commissioner of police (law and order), Sadanand Date as chairman, deputy municipal commissioner Kishor Kshirsagar and advocate Jamshed Mistry as members. Raising security issues, its report stated: Iconic places in Mumbai are always vulnerable to terrorist attacks. Terrorists, in the past, have targeted places and events which are of significant importance and other such places which are frequented by foreigners.

In keeping with the standard practice at festivals of international repute organised worldwide, the report suggested that the organisers should obtain adequate insurance cover for all stakeholders. It also said that the organisers need to devise a mechanism to manage the crowd and that commercial activities should not be allowed at Kala Ghoda. "Only art exhibits may be allowed to be kept on K. Dubhash Marg," said the report.

The hearing will continue on Thursday.

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