Bigger stage set for Maharashtra Day celebrations

The state government has been permitted by the Bombay high court to set up a stage bigger than those set up previously for the golden jubilee Maharashtra Day celebrations, which will be held at Girgaum Chowpatty on May 1.

The state government has been permitted by the Bombay high court to set up a stage bigger than those set up previously for the golden jubilee Maharashtra Day celebrations, which will be held at Girgaum Chowpatty on May 1.

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On Tuesday, a division bench of chief justice Mohit Shah and justice DG Karnik permitted the government to set up bigger stage despite objection from the high power committee, which regulates activities on the beach.

The committee objected to the erection of the stage in the centre of the beach as it falls in coastal regulation zone 1 (CRZ) and to the putting up of barricades, saying that it violated CRZ norms.

"A bigger stage will block two-thirds of the beach and the public will not have access to it," said counsel Rafiq Dada, who is also a member of the committee.

Another member of the committee suggested that the government should erect the stage where they are erected each year for Ram and Krishna Leelas.

Opposing the suggestion, government pleader Dhairyasheel Nalavade said that Ram and Krishna Leelas were annual functions, but the golden jubilee celebration was different.

"We are celebrating 50 years of our [Maharashtra's] existence," said Nalavade before adding that the stage was not going to be a permanent structure.

Nalavade justified the barricades saying that they were put up for protection. However, he said that they would be removed if they caused inconvenience to the public.

Earlier, the high court had permitted the government to hold the closing ceremony of the Raja Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj Rajyabhishek at Chowpatty on April 29.

On Tuesday, the government made another application seeking modification of the earlier order saying that the ceremony has been rescheduled for May 2.