The BMC administration and Ganesh mandals are at loggerheads over the issue of banners. With civic officials sticking to their decision of allowing two banners in the pandal area and mandals refusing to let go income of crores of rupees received through these banners, no decision could be made in the meeting held at the civic headquarters.
According to the new proposed hoardings policy, the BMC has decided to allow only two banners inside the mandaps of Ganesh mandals. However, the Brihan-mumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti (BSGSS), an umbrella organisation of Ganpati mandals in the city, has strongly opposed the move.
BSGSS officials on Monday called upon additional municipal commissioner M.M. Adtani asking him to exempt the forthcoming Ganpati festival from the proposed hoardings policy. However, civic officials, citing the high court decision, refused to grant the relaxation. This led to a verbal exchange between irate BSGSS officials and the civic administration.
“The civic administration has wrongly interpreted the high court’s decision on illegal hoardings. The Ganpati mandals always take the BMC’s permission to display banners by submitting applications and paying the required charges,” said Narendra Dahibavkar, president of BSGSS. According to BSGSS sources, banners are the only source of income for big Ganesh mandals, that amass around `1 crore every year through them.
“However, we use the money for social initiatives. During drought conditions, many of the Ganesh mandals also gave aid to the chief minister’s fund,” said Mr Dahibavkar.
Speaking in support of BSGSS’s demand for relaxation, mayor Sunil Prabhu said, “Ganesh mandals depend heavily on advertisement to earn revenue. Hence, the BMC should allow them to display banners without contempt of court,” said Mr Prabhu.
According to civic sources, the final decision on this issue is likely to be taken in the group leaders’ meeting this week.