Ganesh mandals up in arms against HC

Nagpur: Ganesh festival organizers across Nagpur are upset with the Bombay High Court which has ruled against allowing pandals, welcome arches and gates disrupting traffic. Most of the mandals are of the opinion that NMC should allow them to organize the 10-day-long festival on the roads.
Representatives of over 100 Ganesh mandals made their stand clear at a meeting held at Vasantrao Deshpande Hall on Friday.The meeting was chaired by mayor Pravin Datke while leader of opposition Vikas Thakre and municipal commissioner Shravan Hardikar were also present.
“Ganesh mandals have great respect for the judiciary and law. But the high court cannot dictate how to celebrate a festival like Ganesh utsav,” said Sanjay Chinchole, convener of Santi Ganesh Utsav Mandal, Darodkar Chowk (Central Avenue), whose pandal draws several lakh devotees every year.
Recently, while hearing a contempt petition on pandal erected in the middle of the road in front of Meetha Neem Dargah, the HC had reiterated that the NMC cannot allow pandals that hinder traffic and pedestrian movement. Instead, the civic body along with city police should initiate action against the violators. Recently, NMC had suspended its Dharampeth zone assistant municipal commissioner Rajesh Karade for ignoring police complaint over an illegal pandal.
The HC on Thursday rejected NMC’s affidavit on a draft policy on pandals on city roads after pointing out several lacunae, including failure to fix responsibility on either civic or police officials if such structures were found on roads.
The 10-day Ganesh festival, beginning on September 7 this year, has grown in scale every year. The city has close to 1,000 Ganesh festival organizers, many of whom enjoy support from political parties.
“The court’s order is so unfair. Our pandal has never inconvenienced anyone over nine decades,” said one of the organizers from Mahal. Another organizer said they regularly come under fire for violating noise pollution limits but the spotlight has shifted to pandals on roads.
In 2015, close to 1,200 pandals were put up on city roads and pavements, including spaces near bus stops, public places and even hospitals.
Despite a court ruling that disallows pandals from obstructing traffic, several organizers claim they intend to celebrate the festival as they always have. “In fact, the HC should relax the rule,” said some organizers. They are also planning to meet the CM on July 31 in this regard.
A member from Laxmi Nagar Bal Ganeshotsav said, “Nagpur will celebrate this festival the way it always has — let the authorities take any action they want.”
“This is not just a Maharashtrian festival — all communities celebrate Lord Ganesh, and if we are united, we can overcome any problem,” said Chinchole.
Mayor Pravin Datke was not available for comments. Thakre said NMC and state should ensure the festival is not disturbed since all people participate and enjoy it.