Builders among top sponsors of mandals

Real estate sales may have decreased substantially but builders still continue to be the major sponsors of the ongoing Ganesh festival taking place across the city.

Real estate sales may have decreased substantially but builders still continue to be the major sponsors of the ongoing Ganesh festival taking place across the city.

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In the case of the Ganesh Galli Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Das Group, the major sponsor, is pumping in Rs 30 lakh as donation.

Siddharth Builders, another company, is offering Rs 10 lakh to the Lalbaugcha Raja mandal for displaying their advertisements across the place.

Justifying the donation, Baba Jadhav, former president, Ganesh Galli mandal said that such donations were necessary.

"We cannot celebrate the event on local donations and have to depend on sponsors." Jadhav said.

"Builders earn good money and hence can spend," he added.

The total budget of this mandal is Rs40 lakh, 3/4s of which consists of Das Group's donation.

At the Gaud Saraswat Brahman (GSB) Ganeshotsava Mandal at Sion, a well-known suburban builder weighed his grandson in silver and donated 11kg of it to the mandal.

Builders say that this is necessary considering the nature of their business.

"Since we are connected to the people, residents have expectations from us which we fulfil," said Rajendra Chaturvedi, Chairman, Shreepati Group.

Similar is the view of Babulal Verma, chairman, Omkar Builders Private Limited which has offered Rs 25,000- Rs 50,000 to 15 mandals in the city.

"We have to give donations where the projects are going on or where negotiations are taking place," said Verma.

According to observers, with the paucity of open plots in the city, redevelopment is the only option available with the builders in the construction industry. For this, they resort to various means to woo the residents of the buildings.

Since many of the organisers of the Ganesh mandals are also office bearers in the various buildings, it becomes necessary for builders to sponsor the festivities to keep them in good humour.

"Considering the popularity of the festival, this works out to be the best advertising medium for the builders to propagate their company," said Girish Walawalkar, secretary, Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsava Samanvaye Samitee.