The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has imposed a fine of Rs 3.66 lakh on Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal for digging up the road and footpaths for pandals and creating potholes.
According to the BMC, a total of 183 potholes were created on the Dr Babasaheb Road and TB Kadam Marg after Lalbaughcha Raja, the most prominent Ganesh mandals in Mumbai dug it up during the recently held Ganeshotsav this year.
The BMC carried out an inspection of this road and fined the Ganeshotsav organisers Rs 2,000 for one pothole, amounting to a total of Rs 3.66 lakhs.
"We have sent a notice to Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav committee and asked them to pay the fine of Rs 3.66 lakh," BMC deputy commissioner Ramakant Biradar said.
According to the civic body rules, permission to put up a pandal on the road comes with a condition that pits cannot be created on roads or footpaths. After the festival ends, the civic team inspects roads to check if the organisers followed the order or not.
In the past too Lalbaughcha Raja mandal has been fined similar amounts by the BMC.
The Lalbaugcha Raja temple sees a massive footfall of devotees during the festival.
This year some 35 lakh people visited the temple during Ganesh Mahotsav.
This includes Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis, and Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar.
The auction of the gold and silver offered by devotees to Lalbaugcha Raja was conducted on September 15.
Ganesh Chaturthi or Ganpati Utsav, which starts on the fourth day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar month Bhadrapada, is celebrated with much fanfare in Maharashtra and other parts of western and southern India with lakhs of devotees converging on mandaps to seek blessing from Lord Ganesha. The festival is also known as Vinayak Chaturthi or Vinayak Chavithi.
The idol of Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh was immersed in the Arabian sea at Girgaon Chowpatty on Saturday, September 10, nearly 22 hours after its procession started on Friday.
According to the BMC, more than 38,000 idols of Lord Ganesh were immersed in various water bodies across Mumbai this year.
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