Latest news with #BrihanmumbaiSarvajanikGaneshotsavSamanvaySamiti
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ganesh mandals in Mumbai seek abolition of Rs 2,000 penalty for digging public roads
MUMBAI: Ganeshotsav mandals have demanded that govt authorities revoke the existing Rs 2,000 per hole fine levied upon mandals that dig public roads to erect mandaps. Naresh Dahibawkar, president of the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti, said they held their annual Ganeshotsav preparatory meeting with CM Devendra Fadnavis, and senior state and civic officials on Wednesday. "BMC had recently raised the fine to Rs 15,000 per hole which it then retracted. However, we want the old fine of Rs 2,000 per hole to also be abolished. In 2024, the then CM Eknath Shinde had removed that penalty. We want his practice to continue. After all Ganeshotsav has been designated a state festival now," Dahibawkar said. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai | Gold Rates Today in Mumbai | Silver Rates Today in Mumbai "We have also sought the removal of fire brigade levy of Rs 1.25 lakh per day which is charged to Ganesh mandals as fire engines are deployed near Lalbaugcha Raja during the festival. We also want the relaxation on visarjan of plaster of paris (PoP) idols to continue each year, instead of merely being issued for the current year," he added. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. "Get the latest news updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2 ."
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Ganpati mandals in Mumbai want to dig roads and pay no penalty
Mumbai: Ganeshotsav mandals have demanded that govt authorities revoke the Rs 2,000 per hole fine levied upon mandals that dig public roads to erect mandaps. Naresh Dahibawkar, president of the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti, said they held their annual Ganeshotsav preparatory meeting with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and senior state and civic officials on Wednesday. "BMC had recently raised the fine to Rs 15,000 per hole, which it then retracted. However, we want the old fine of Rs 2,000 per hole to also be abolished. In 2024, the then CM Eknath Shinde had removed that penalty. We want his practice to continue. After all, Ganeshotsav has been designated a state festival now," Dahibawkar said. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai | Gold Rates Today in Mumbai | Silver Rates Today in Mumbai "We have also sought the removal of fire brigade levy of Rs 1.25 lakh per day, which is charged to Ganesh mandals as fire engines are deployed near Lalbaugcha Raja during the festival. We also want the relaxation on visarjan of plaster of paris (PoP) idols to continue each year, instead of merely being issued for the current year," he said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
BMC revokes hiked penalty on Ganesh mandals for digging holes to erect pandals on Mumbai roads after deputy chief minister Ekanth Shinde intervenes
Mumbai: BMC on Thursday revoked its decision to increase the penalty for road-digging by Ganesh mandals to erect pandals from Rs 2,000 to Rs 15,000 per hole on deputy chief minister Ekanth Shinde's intervention. Shinde instructed BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani to revoke the hiked penalty after Ganesh mandals approached him. He posted on X: "Ganpati Bappa Morya! The Mumbai municipal corporation had increased the amount of the fine (road restoration fee) to be charged if public Ganeshotsav committees dug up roads to set up pandals. I discussed the matter with municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, and instructed that there should be no increase in the fine amount. As per the new regulations, a fee of Rs 15,000 was to be charged for each pit dug by committees for setting up pandals during Ganeshotsav. Now, as per the old regulations, only a fee of Rs 2,000 will be charged." Shinde added, "A large number of roads in Mumbai are being concretised. There is an appeal to the (Ganeshotsav) committees to positively consider the use of new technology for setting up pandals without digging up concrete roads." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 3-Bedroom Container Houses for Seniors in South Africa LocalPlan Search Now Undo You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai But a BMC official pointed out: "The fine was hiked after a long gap. The Rs 2,000 fine has been in existence since the year 2017. Since current road concretisation works are ongoing, a decision to raise the amount to Rs 15,000 was taken in the interest of protecting good roads," said an official. Staking claim for the rollback in the Rs 15,000 penalty was cabinet minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha. On July 30, representatives of various Ganesh mandals attended the 'Raja Chhatrapati Grievance Redressal Camp' held at the BMC's C Ward office in Mumbai. After hearing the complaints of mandals, Lodha had assured them of a resolution to the penalty issue. "Ganeshotsav is an inseparable part of Maharashtra's culture, and the govt is committed to ensuring that everyone can celebrate it with enthusiasm," said Lodha. Naresh Dahibawkar, president of the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti, said he had telephoned Shinde and urged him to revoke the new fine amount. He was pleased their plea had been heeded.
Time of India
28-07-2025
- Time of India
To protect newly concretised roads, BMC to fine Ganpati mandals Rs 15,000 per hole
1 2 3 4 5 Mumbai: In a bid to protect newly concretised roads across Mumbai, the BMC has increased the penalty for road-digging by Ganesh mandals for the very first time from Rs 2,000 to Rs 15,000 per hole. Ganpati mandals often dig holes in the ground to affix bamboo poles for mandaps. Civic officials said the earlier fine had little deterrent effect, especially since many mandals operate with a turnover running into crores of rupees. Also with the ongoing cement-concretisation project of the BMC, which aims to concretise all roads of the city, there is a policy that does not permit even trenching works for the first three years. "Therefore in such a scenario, mandals digging up the road for setting up pandals cannot be accepted lightly. Also with the cost of re-laying damaged concrete roads significantly higher, the civic body opted for a stricter approach to discourage unauthorised digging," said a BMC official. He added that the revision in penalty has been done by the infrastructure wing of the BMC which is currently involved in the cement concretisation of roads. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your IQ Is 140 If You Can Answer 10 of These Questions Correctly. IQ International Undo You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai A BMC official involved in the Ganeshotsav preparations for the city said that there was also a case in the court wherein an NGO had pointed out that the penalty for mandals damaging city roads was too low. "Therefore the deputy municipal commissioner, infrastructure, proposed the penalty which has also received a sanction of the municipal commissioner," he said. The Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti, the coordinating body of Ganesh mandals in the city, has demanded that the BMC revoke the new Rs 15,000 penalty for digging holes in the ground. Issuing a list of demands from the civic body and police authorities for Ganeshotsav, the samiti sought waiver of police cases against karyakartas, removal of abandoned vehicles near mandaps, and urged police to not prevent music bands from joining their aagman processions. Samiti president Naresh Dahibawkar said former CM Eknath Shinde had waived all fees for mandals so the present govt should do so too. The samiti pointed to its new privilege as "state festival" and said it expected "respectful treatment from the govt authorities".
Hindustan Times
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
BMC gives 858 tonnes of shadu clay, eco-friendly paint, free work spaces to idol makers
MUMBAI: In a bid to make the upcoming Ganeshotsav more environmentally friendly, the BMC is pulling out all the stops; it is distributing free shadu clay and eco-friendly paint and offering artists space to craft the idols. BMC gives 858 tonnes of shadu clay, eco-friendly paint, free work spaces to idol makers By Saturday, the civic body had already distributed 858 tonnes of shadu clay to 477 idol makers, a record that surpasses the previous years. In 2024, around 600 tonnes of clay was distributed, while in 2023, the year the offer began, it was around 400 tonnes. 'The BMC has been giving shadu clay to all those who applied,' said Prashant Sapkale, deputy commissioner of Zone 2 and BMC coordinator of the Ganesh festival. 'The applications began from February, and till now, most requests have already come in. The demand might go up slightly.' Besides the clay, the BMC has also offered free temporary sheds, two or three per ward, to craft idols on a first-come-first-serve basis. It will also be supplying eco-friendly white paint for the idols. As per specifications, the 'ecofriendly colour should be water-soluble and non-toxic to aquatic species ie free from heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, chromium and mercury'. The civic body will also be conducting awareness activities to encourage people to celebrate the festival, scheduled for August 27, in a more eco-friendly manner. While appreciative of the BMC's efforts, Naresh Dahibavkar, president of the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti (BSGSS), said, 'Smaller Ganpati idols worshipped at home are being made of clay but there are not many clay idol makers in Mumbai. Clay is also heavier than POP, and not suitable for sarvajanik big idols.' Following the Bombay high court order in June, which lifted the ban on manufacturing and selling POP idols but refused to allow their immersion in natural waters, the BSGSS has been pushing the government to allow at least the big sarvajanik idols to be immersed in natural water bodies. 'Artificial ponds are not spacious enough for the bigger idols, and there is not adequate space to enlarge these ponds in areas like Lalbaug,' said Dahibavkar. 'Also, their concentrated space will cause overcrowding in small areas and may result in incidents. If idols were allowed to be immersed for only a few hours during low tide, that would reduce the effect on the environment. We are requesting the government to consider it, and are appealing to the court to allow the immersion in natural bodies.'
