Dayanand Nene, president of the Alert Citizens Forum of India, said, "We are not against any festival, but are against the way they are celebrated. More than 100 pandals encroach roads leading to traffic in the area."
As the Bombay high court has slammed setting pandals on city roads for festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri and others, citizens forum, residents and activists from Thane urge the Thane Municipal Corporation and traffic department to take action against the 100-odd mandals who encroach roads during festival.
Dayanand Nene, president of the Alert Citizens Forum of India, said, "We are not against any festival, but are against the way they are celebrated. More than 100 pandals encroach roads leading to traffic in the area."
The residents and activists claimed that the mandals in Panchpakhadi and in other parts of Thane encroach over 80% of the roads, but they escape easily as the TMC levies only nominal fine. Apart from traffic jams, the pandals erected at every nook and corner damages the roads as well.
"These mandals are patronised by politicians who harass common man under the garb of keeping the tradition intact. In light of the high court's observation, stringent action should be taken against pandals encroaching more than 25 per cent of the roads or by levying a deterrent fine of Rs1 lakh," added Nene.
Activist Mahesh Bedekar, who has been credited for getting noise norms in place through his petition and constant efforts, said, "We are asking for peaceful celebrations and other than a few corporators and politicians, most of the people are in favour of such type of celebrations. Even I will not be pleased if mandals get notice or their belongings are confiscated, but we only want a celebration which does not bother others."
The residents and activists unanimously said they enjoy the festival, but it is the traffic, noise pollution and even air pollution that creates the trouble. "Children and senior residents are worst affected because of the pollution and if we approach the authorities, then they say that it's just for 10 days," said Avinash Jadhav, a Panchpkahadi resident.
"What is important than framing laws is to check their implementation and TMC should cater to implementing them. Also, residents should be more vocal about their demands towards a peaceful celebration during Ganpati and other festivals," said another activist Nilesh Ambekar.
City corporators who were miffed and against the new pandal policy of using only 25 per cent of the roads have finally given up and agreed to the new rules framed by the Thane Municipal Corporation. The new pandal policy has also been approved in the general body meeting and will be effective from the Ganesh Chaturthi next month. The guidelines also state that the pandals should not obstruct traffic and they should not be erected near school, hospital and station. There is a strict denial to prohibition of roads and the mandals should necessarily adhere to noise norms and guidelines set by TMC.
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