349 illegal pandals: HC asks how

MUMBAI:THE Bombay high court (HC) has asked officers of 12 municipal corporations of the state to explain why a large number of illegal pandals have been permitted to be put up during the festive season, despite numerous court orders restricting it.

A division bench of justice Abhay Oka and M S Sonak was hearing the survey reports submitted by officials of different districts, stating there were 349 illegal pandals in the city and suburbs. The survey was undertaken after the Bombay high court directed the state to ensure there were no violations of its orders passed in 2016 that asked the authorities to prevent the building of such pandals.

The report of the city and suburbs showed that of the 222 pandals surveyed in the island city, none of them was unauthorised. However, of the 325 pandals surveyed in Mumbai suburbs, 217 were either illegal or violating norms; in Malad 45 of the 48 pandals were illegal or flouting rules, followed by Borivli (41 of 77) and Andheri (36 of 77).

In the eastern suburbs, Bhandup led the list with 55 of the 66 pandals in violation of rules or illegal.

“It is surprising that despite our orders passed two years ago there are such a large number of pandals that are in violation,” said justice Oka.

The bench has asked counsels of BMC and other corporations to respond to the findings on Friday.

K A Y DODHIYA