Mumbai: As many as 1,322 Ganeshotsav mandaps in the city are waiting for permissions.

MUMBAI: With Ganeshotsav just eight days away, 48.67 per cent of the 1,322 mandals have not been able to get a mandap licence from the BMC. However, as Ganeshotsav is nearing, most of these mandals have started decorating by setting up mandaps without permission. Some pandals have started decorating by installing tall Ganesh idols at the mandap. Due to the holiday in August and technical difficulties in the Information and Technology Department, the mandap license could not be obtained on time.
Ganeshotsav is celebrated by erecting pandals in open spaces on roads, footpaths, grounds or public places in different areas of Mumbai. A few years ago, pandals erected on roads and footpaths for Ganeshotsav were causing hindrance to traffic and pedestrians. Finally, on the orders of the court, strict rules were made for the pavilions on the roads and sidewalks. Mandaps are being allowed to be set up in such a way that there is no hindrance to traffic and pedestrians. Strict rules have been made regarding the layout of the temple, the size of the pandal, the entrance and exit gates, crowd planning, etc. Also, the permission of the municipal corporation, local police station, fire brigade and traffic police has been made mandatory for mandaps.



Every year, public Ganeshotsav Mandals have to get a mandap license from the Municipal Corporation. Earlier, for mandap license, the office bearers of the mandals had to visit the concerned offices to get a no-objection certificate from the local police station, traffic police, fire brigade. However, by changing this method, the municipal corporation started a window scheme for the mandap license. The municipal corporation has also started issuing mandap permits online. With this, the problems of the officials have been reduced to a great extent.

The public Ganeshotsav mandals had applied for 3,205 mandap permits to the BMC this year. A total of 432 applications were reviewed. Out of the remaining 2,773 applications, 48.67 per cent i.e. 1,451 mandaps have been given license till August 30. The remaining 1,322 mandals are awaiting mandap permits.



The Ganesh festival is celebrated with much fervour in Maharashtra. There are more than 12 thousand public Ganeshotsav Mandals in Mumbai. Meetings of the office bearers of the board, mandap, decoration, programs during Ganeshotsav etc. are planned. Majority of the troupes have an inclination towards decoration, giving social message through the medium of films. For its preparation, it is necessary to set up a mandap before Ganeshotsav. However, some mandals have been forced to start preparations for Ganeshotsav by erecting mandaps as they have not yet received the license from the Municipal Corporation.

In the month of August, there was a holiday for the employees due to festivals. Also, the process of mandap license could not be expedited due to errors in the Information and Technology Department of the Municipal Corporation. The employees should be called to the office on holidays and the work of mandap license should be expedited. The employees were later let off. - Ed. Naresh Dahibavkar, President, Brihanmumbai Public Ganeshotsav Coordination Committee

In some of the divisional offices of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation, the work of issuing mandap licenses is going on at a slow pace. The deputy commissioner, assistant commissioner, officers and employees of the corporation are giving instructions. However, the workers are not getting the permits. This work needs to be expedited. - Suresh Sarnobat, Chief Executive Officer, Akhil Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mahasangh