Mumbai: Two months prior to the Ganesh Festival, the BMC in a notice has asked the Ganpati pandals across the city seeking permission to apply online. The process started on June 15. BMC’s online application system is linked with the traffic and police department. After the submission of the application, it is forwarded to ward offices and traffic and police department to be approved within three days. The last day for the online permission is August 19. As many as 10,500 Sarvajanik Ganesh pandals dot the city. The online process, which started late last year, the BMC website witnessed heavy traffic. So, it was difficult for Ganesh pandals to take permission offline in a week’s time. Apart from the online permission, the pandals will have to obtain permission from local police stations for agman, visarjan and sound.
Lalbaugcha Raja, Ganesh Galli Mumbaicha Raja, Nare Park Parel cha Raja, Chinchpokli Chintamani pandal members said, “Despite the online process, the offline process should also be made available. As per BMC notice released on Thursday, the pandals will have to follow BMC rules and regulations.”
According to the High Court order, the core committee of the pandals has to take the permission of the city police commissioner so that the police can ensure the right of citizens, smooth movement of vehicular traffic and free pedestrians movement on footpaths. Despite having the online process, it is mandatory for the pandal committee members to visit the police stations and traffic police department.
As per the BMC order, the pandal should not be more than 30 feet and no holes shall be made in the roads. If detected, the pandal will be penalised and made to pay a fine of Rs2000. Every pandal should display the telephone/mobile numbers of the competent authority for various civic services and complaints, noise pollution, health-related complaints, security and different type of nuisance. In addition, toll-free number (1916) shall also be displayed on the pandal for public to lodge a complaint, if any.
Naresh Dahibavkar, president of the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti (BSGSS), an umbrella body of Ganesh pandals in the city, said “Even the civic officials of the respective ward offices are not well-versed with the online system, making the process even more cumbersome. So, we requested the BMC to continue with both the system this year.” He added the notice, BMC put up, said there is no need to visit a police station, is incorrect.
This year, the Ganesh pandals are hoping for a smoother process. Notably, the civic body had last year received complaints of the online system getting hung when pandals had to submit applications in a short period, so, some had to take the permission offline, by visiting the office.
