BMC has also agreed to increase the number of 'nirmalya kalash', which it installs at every immersion place.
The Ganeshotsav coordination committee has given ultimatum to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to fill potholes across the city by August 21 to ensure that Ganesh idols do not get damaged while being brought to the pandals. The committee also demanded that eastern suburbs have been ignored all these years, and Powai Lake, which witnesses immersion of more than 4,500 Ganesh idols every year, should be given more facilities, along the lines of Girgaum Chowpatty, which gets VIP arrangements.
Municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta has assured the committee's office-bearers that all potholes will be filled by the civic body, if contractors fail to. "The municipal commissioner has assured us that the civic body will fill the potholes and send the bills to contractors if the roads are under the defect liability period and the latter don't do the job. We hope that unlike empty assurances every year, this time it's done," said Suresh Sarnobat, secretary of Akhil Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mahasangh.
BMC has also agreed to increase the number of 'nirmalya kalash', which it installs at every immersion place.
Increasing cases of jellyfishes on beaches was also discussed during the joint meeting at the civic body's headquarters. The meeting was chaired by the mayor along with the municipal commissioner and leader of the House Trushna Vishwasrao. Heads of all departments were present at the meeting.
Sarnobat also said that they want BMC to stop ignoring the eastern suburbs and take more interest in arrangements and providing facilities in Powai lake.
"We need better arrangements, such as trawlers, boats, sturdy planks for immersion and enough safety precautions at the time of immersion at Powai. Also, at Versova, big mandals are charged heavily for the immersion, which should not happen," said Sarnobat, adding that the eastern suburbs have witnessed the highest number of cases of food poisoning due to stale and inferior quality of sweets prepared for festivals, and hence, they have asked the civic body to be be vigilant about the materials used for the same.
Safety of women visiting pandals during late evening and at night was also discussed with the police officers present for the meeting.
Mandals, on the other hand, have been told by the BMC and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board to keep noise pollution in check, especially hiring DJs during immersion and causing disturbance in silence zones.
Sarnobat, however, said non-commitally, "We will keep the appeal in mind, but the young generation demands it and we have to provide it."
Other demands by mandals
One window system for all permissions
Creating awareness about BMC's competition
Cutting of tree branches creating hurdles in bringing big idols by trucks
Allowing putting up advertisements and not charging for the same
Allowing pandals on 40% of the road and letting the traffic flow on the rest of it
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