Mumbai: BMC has received 2,218 applications from Ganesh Mandals to establish community pandales throughout the city.
Of these, it has approved 1,389 – which is 63% of the total application, shows data from BMC.
Last year, BMC has approved 1,700 applications in the middle of the first Ganeshotsav festival at the time of Covid’s pandemic.
This year, the number of applications is expected to cross the number last year, say the festival community organizers.
“People are somewhat fed up in the room throughout …
Now, with many who take vaccination shots, more people tend to join the spirit of religion with the right restrictions,” said Naresh Dahibavkar, President of Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshosts Samanvay Samiti, organization Community organization umbrella.
“Somehow, the overall fear factor of the virus seems to be lower this year,” he said.
However, BMC has instructed that all the appropriate Covid behavior followed by a pandal that has been given permission.
This year, in all, 601 applications (27%) are in the processing stage because the approval of the traffic police or the local police station is awaited, officials said, adding that the process must be completed by the weekend depending on the response.
Depends on the police authority response.
BMC has resisted 228 applications (10%) of the total received.
Dahibavkar said they had asked BMC to appoint a nodal official on each ward to process the application.
“Environmental officers are not present throughout the day and often, permission for the Mandal is detained because the final agreement comes from him.” Those who use ganpati idols at home must immerse them in artificial ponds created by BMC and Mandal will be allowed to soak the idols in the sea.
But no allowed meetings and limited people from the mandal can join for dyeing.
BMC has also requested Mandal not to have more than five people in a pandal and appeal to regulate Darshan online.
They are also people in a pandal need to be fully vaccinated.
52% of applications for ganpati pandal, get a nod
