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ShareMumbai: The army and navy will play a major role in this year's Ganeshotsav. After recent intelligence warnings that terrorists could again use the sea to attack the city, BMC doesn't want to take any chances with security arrangements during popular festivals.
At a meeting in mayor Shubha Raul's chamber on Friday, it was decided that the army and navy would train volunteers of various mandals to deal with emergency situations. The volunteers will be taught to evacuate large number of people in the shortest time possible. Volunteers of Lalbaugcha Raja have this training.
Civic authorities, leaders from the ruling alliance, the mayor, representatives of mandals, officials from the Mumbai Maritime Board and pollution control board attended the meeting.
"The mandals have been told to increase security arrangements at pandals. We will ask them to install CCTVs and metal detectors at pandals," additional municipal commissioner Madhav Sangle said.
Naval boats would be deployed along important beaches on major immersion days. The 10-day festival will begin on August 23.
Another meeting on security arrangements during the festival will be held next week. Apart from civic authorities, police and officers from the army and navy are expected to attend the meeting.
