Mandals denied permits fail to get relief from BMC

Mumbai: Ganesh mandals, who have been denied permission for erecting pandals, have failed to get relief from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The civic body has turned down their demand to reconsider its decision of denying permission for not complying with high court guidelines and conditions for erecting pandals for Ganeshotsav.

According to civic data, out of 3523 applications received from city Ganesh mandals, 773 were cancelled due to duplication. Of the 2750 applications processed, permission was granted to 2290 Ganesh mandals, whereas 281 mandals were rejected by the BMC.

Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar on Monday convened a meeting of Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ga-neshotsav Samanvay Sam-iti and BMC officials at the mayor’s bungalow to sort out the issue. However, the civic administration made it clear that the permissions have been denied to only those mandals, who have not complied with HC guidelines and BMC conditions for erecting pandals. A hearing will be held on September 12 in the HC in this regard. Till then, the question of giving permission does not arise, said officials.

BMC’s decision will deprive 281 mandals of celebrating Ganeshotsav. Hence it should grant them permission offline, said Shiv Sena leader Vinod Ghosalkar, who is also a secretary of BSGSS.

Narendra Dahibavkar, president of BSGSS, said, “Since the whole issue has cropped up due to problems in its own online system, BMC should give permission.”