Mandals scout for new venues

With the Bombay high court coming down hard against Mandals organizing Ganeshotsav and Navratri on roads, several top mandals in the city are looking for alternative venues. With little availability of space, the mandals have a herculean task ahead of them.

A 31-year-old mandal in Vashi has this year been denied an alternative place it had been given last year. The mandal is now looking for the third venue.

The local agencies are strictly following the orders of Mumbai high court with respect to the festivities. No permission is being given to any mandal that could encroach upon roads and public spaces causing hassles to the residents.

NMMC has rejected permission for festivities planned not just on roads, but also alongside the roads. The mandals are rushing to find spots that will get them clearances in the last minute.

The sarvajanik Ganeshotsav mandal of ward 62 in Vashi was usually celebrated in the open space near the SSC and HSC board office. NMMC had last year denied it permission as it encroach on internal road. Following a request by the mandal, it had then been given space by NMMC, behind the rear gate of Vishnudas Bhave auditorium in Vashi. NMMC had charged the mandal for the space provided.

This year, the mandal has been denied this space. The mandal members are now hence looking for yet another alternative.

A similar situation exists in Nerul where the festivities were earlier organized under Seawoods bridge. They too are searching for a new spot. Mangesh Chavan, a social worker, said, “More than a dozen such mandals are looking for new venues. Some mandals are cleaning up filthy areas and occupy the space.”

An NMMC official, “We are going strictly by the court orders. We will not relax the norms for anyone.”