Ganesh mandals under scanner for tobacco ads

The Ganesh mandals which advertise tobacco products during the upcoming festival will be denied permission to put up any hoardings next year.

The Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav Coordination Committee, the city’s umbrella organisation for Ganesh mandals, will keep a close watch on mandals that allow direct or surrogate advertising of tobacco companies during the festival.

“We have decided to monitor the hoardings put up by the mandals. Those who are advertising tobacco companies will not be given permission to put up hoarding next year,” said Naresh Dahibawkar, chairman of the committee adding that the members are already in talks with the BMC which is the authority for hoarding permissions.