Litter all around, LMC staff does the clean-up job

If Ecogreen is unable to provide services, it cannot charge bhandara organisers: Municipal commissioner

LUCKNOW: The Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) did not levy any user charge on bhandaras set up on the first Bada Mangal. And while a lot of littering took place due to bhandaras, none of the organisers took permission from the LMC or deposited any money with it for getting their surroundings cleaned up.

To recall, the municipal corporation had decided to levy a charge of ₹500 on every bhandara set up for distribution of prasad on Bada Mangal. LMC officials had said the move was being taken to keep the city clean and improve its ranking in the Swachh Bharat Survey.

However, they soon did a U-turn. On Tuesday, municipal commissioner PK Srivastava told HT, “If Ecogreen (the private agency responsible for door-todoor waste collection) is unable to provide services, then it cannot charge bhandara organisers. The order is only applicable if services are provided.” However, LMC sweepers were seen cleaning up mess in many places after bhandaras wrapped up. Around 1,200 sanitation workers were pressed into service for cleaning the surroundings of major temples.

DEVOTEES THRONG HANUMAN TEMPLES

Long queues of devotees were seen at the Hanuman Setu Temple since early morning. Some worshippers distributed free ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ and other religious literature.

Besides, many social organisation came forward to set up bhan- daras and pyaus (drinking water facility) for devotees.

Secretary of Chachi Kuan Hanuman temple, Kamlesh Tewari, said, “Worshippers started queuing up outside the temple as early as 4 am. Many NGOs had contributed to distribute prasad to devotees and set up pyaus.” At the Aminabad Hanuman temple, devotees offered ‘bhog’ of a 51kg laddoo to the Lord.

At the Talkatora Hanuman temple, the Lord’s ‘shringar’ was done using gold and silver foils, while at the Pukkapul temple, it was done with flowers.

RAZA, BUKKAL NAWAB DISTRIBUTE PRASAD

State cabinet minister Mohsin Raza and MLC Bukkal Nawab performed Lord Hanuman’s ‘darshan’ at Hazratganj, Aliganj and Pukkapul Hanuman temples. They also distributed prasad at the Hazratganj temple.

The duo also monitored all public amenities in these places.

SUBHANKAR CHAKRABORTY/HT PHOTO Devotees tying sacred threads on bells at the Aliganj Hanuman temple in Lucknow on the occasion of Bada Mangal on Tuesday.

DEEPAK GUPTA / HT MLC Bukkal Nawab serving ‘prasad’ to devotees at the bhandara set up in Hazratganj on Tuesday.