Ganesh mandals demand additional day for loudspeaker

Though the Mumbai police have announced an exemption on the ban on loudspeakers till midnight for three days this Ganesh festival, Sarvajanik Ganesh mandals are demanding one more day to be added.

Guardian minister of suburbs, Arif Naseem Khan, after a meeting with the Ganesh mandals in the suburbs on Sunday, announced that exemption for the loudspeakers had been given for three days.

“The state pollution control board has the right to give 15 days exemption for festivals. Ganesh festival gets three days of exemption, while police have reserved two days for their annual functions. We demanded one more day to be added for the Ganesh festival,” said Narendra Dahibaonkar, Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samnavay Samiti.

He said that the exemption was sought on tenth day as the mandals organise programmes on that day.

Mandals also have complained about the potholes and the hurdles created due to the Metro rail and flyover projects. “I have directed the government agencies, which has been involved in the construction of Metro rail to facilitate the Ganapati processions. The BMC has been asked to fill up the potholes, which are a cause of concern for the mandals, before September 1,” Khan said.

Deputy commission of BMC, SS Kudalkar said that his office has identified roads with the potholes. “The work will be completed within the deadline,” he said.

The BMC and police stations have been asked to follow single window system for the permissions for the sarvajanik mandals.