6 days on, 600 pandals yet to get BMC nod

MUMBAI: Over 600 permissions for pandals are still pending six days into Ganeshotsav, according to figures from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

MUMBAI: Over 600 permissions for pandals are still pending six days into Ganeshotsav, according to figures from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

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However, the sluggish granting of permissions has not slowed down any mandals as sources say all the pandals have been erected according to their schedule, with or without permissions.

There are over 11,000 Sarvajanik mandals registered with the BMC. This year, out of the 2,530 applications that the BMC received for erecting pandals, only 1,319 have been granted permission while some have been rejected; however, 1,806 Sarvajanik idols had already been immersed by the 6th day, according to official figures.

While the BMC takes no action against the pandals during the festival, it sends notices later to mandals that have constructed pandals without the requisite permissions. The BMC had last year sent notices to 350 such mandals.

A BMC policy, after a high court order last year, stated that pedestrians should not be inconvenienced by any pandals set up for Ganeshotsav. The nine-page policy was issued to all 24 administrative wards by civic chief Ajoy Mehta last year.

In the policy, the BMC had made it compulsory for all mandals to get approvals from the police, traffic and fire departments. However, there are many in the city, which have erected pandals without any sort of permission.

The policy also requires organisers to submit a location map, with the sketch of the pandal, mentioning its length, width and height.

During the festival, organisers should ensure maps are put up near the pandals to direct pedestrians and drivers and provide an alternative route.