Uddhav Thackeray, 8 others set to get elected to council
Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray is all set to get elected to the legislative council after four candidates from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) withdrew their nominations and nine candidates remained in the fray for the same number of seats.
Besides Thackeray, Shiv Sena leader and deputy chairman of the legislative council Neelam Gorhe; BJP’S Ramesh Karad, Gopichand Padalkar, Pravin Datke, Ranjitsinh Mohite Patil; NCP’S Shashikant Shinde and Amol Mitkari; and Congress’s Rajesh Rathod are the members to be elected to the upper house.
The official announcement will be done by the election commission on Thursday, the last day of withdrawal of nominations. “We have received the withdrawal letters of Dr Ajeet Gopchade, Sandeep Lele (both BJP), Kiran Pawaskar and Shivajirao Garje (both NCP) yesterday. The announcement of the unopposed election of the candidates in the fray will be done tomorrow, the last day of withdrawal of nominations,” said Vilas Athawale, the assistant returning officer.
After the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) banned the use of plaster of paris (POP), thermocol and single-use plastic in idols on Wednesday, idol makers in the city said this could mean a loss of livelihood for many.
CPCB has issued guidelines that promote using eco-friendly materials to make and decorate idols.
On Wednesday, CPCB published the revised version of its 10-year-old guidelines. “Idols and decorations made using POP, plastic and thermocol accessories as well as dyes used to colour these idols, having harmful and toxic chemicals, are banned for future use,” said Prashant Gargava, member secretary, CPCB.
This has been done to tackle environmental damage caused by the immersion of idols. Gargava said state pollution control boards have been directed to take a call on suitable penalties for illegal use of banned materials.
According to the Brihanmumbai Samanvay Ganeshotsav Sarvajanik Samiti (BSGSS), the umbrella body of Ganesh mandals in the city, less than 5% of the total number of idols made in 2019 were eco-friendly.
The Brihanmumbai Ganesh Murtikar Sangh, an association with over 700 idol makers in Mumbai, said it was opposed to new guidelines.
“It takes a minimum of 22 days to make the smallest clay idols and six months to complete large idols. During lockdown, how will we manage to get large quantity of clay?” said Gajanan Tondwalkar, president of the association. This year, the Ganesh festival will take place in August.
Tondwalkar said new guidelines could lead to almost five lakh artisans losing their livelihoods. “We will challenge Centre’s decision before courts and submit our reservations to state government,” he said.
Other guidelines issued by CPCB require groups of craftsmen making over 100 idols to be registered with urban local bodies and state pollution control boards, which will grant permits to artisans.