Civic nod for 1.9k Ganpati pandals in Mumbai, 258 pleas rejected

A total of 3,186 applications were submitted online to the BMC for setting up pandals on roads and footpath

With the deadline to obtain permission for Ganesh pandals just two days away, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has cleared almost 78% applications or 1,958 applications as of Sunday and rejected 258.

Devotees for different areas carry idols ahead of the Ganesh Festival, at Lalbaug.(HT Photo)

A total of 3,186 applications were submitted online to the BMC for setting up pandals on roads and footpath.

Most applications were rejected as the pandals did not comply with the rules. While some did not submit the self-certification, some were found causing hindrances to traffic or encroaching footpaths and roads, according to officials.

According to the guidelines, pandals should be at least 10 feet away from a building, they cannot be erected near a railway line, chimney or furnace unless a distance of 15 metres is maintained, and internal roads shall be kept free from any obstruction, among others. The guidelines also stated that mandals need to submit a ‘self-certified declaration on a ₹500 stamp paper about compliance of fire safety measures to the ward authority, and it would be the sole responsibility of organisers to comply with all fire safety measures under Section 3 (3) of Maharashtra Fire Prevention and life safety measures act – 2006’. Organisers across the city were irked with the self-certification.

Out of the 3,186 applications submitted, BMC has cancelled 698 applications because of duplication. Other applications are pending with traffic police, local police office and the BMC. The deadline for granting permission to the organisers ended last week, after which BMC extended the same till September 5.

BMC is also demolishing pandals which were erected without permission and are encroaching roads and footpath.

Civic officials said pandals whose applications were rejected can reapply after complying with the rules. “There is cooperation from authorities and the application process is going on smoothly. We have also asked the civic boy to provide better lighting on the immersion spots like Girgaum,” said Naresh Dahibhavkar, president of Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti an umbrella body of organisers.

From this year, BMC introduced a single-window online system for accepting applications. The online system is linked with the traffic and police department. After the submission of the application, it is forwarded to ward offices, traffic and police department to be approved within three days.