Ganesh pandals causing unholy mess on suburb streets, say locals

Several footpaths in the suburbs have been encroached upon or dug up ahead of the Ganpati festival, inconveniencing locals and disrupting vehicular traffic. According to residents, on several stretches, footpaths have been swallowed by pandals, decorations and makeshift stands for decorative lights.

The Bombay high court, on August 11, had directed the civic body to not allow pandals and mandaps on roads and footpaths as they disturb traffic flow and inconvenience citizens. The order was significant in view of the upcoming Ganpati festival, during which areas such as Matunga, Dadar, Wadala, Lalbaug and Parel witnesses the mushrooming growth of such pandals.

However, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) seems to have turned a blind eye towards blatant violations. Several pandals near Kabutar khana at Dadar (west) not only occupy a major part of roads but also encroach upon drains and footpaths, and, in addition, cause bottlenecks. Residents of the area have expressed worries about whether ambulance drivers will be able to move their vehicles freely on the streets in case of medical emergencies.

Anant Ramji Dhanawade (32) from Pen, who comes to the city every year to sell Ganpati idols, said, “ If we don’t sit here and sell our idols we will be in a loss. The BMC has never been an issue for us; it hasn’t raised any objections to our activities.”

Assistant commissioner, G North, Ramakant Biradar said, “These people are damaging resurfaced roads. This year on, we are going to be stricter and we will be picking up their idols, and we won’t allow anyone to create a ruckus.”