21 January,2014 08:03 AM IST | | Chetna Sadadekar
Officials said they had to use their manpower to clear streets littered with empty bottles after event; moreover, temporary pandals erected have left holes on the roads
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is thinking of keeping the deposit money submitted by the Mumbai Marathon organisers. The move comes after the administration opined that this year's event generated more waste and the temporary pandals erected left behind gaping holes on the marathon course.
Organisers of the Mumbai Marathon are set to lose their Rs 29 lakh deposit money submitted to the BMC prior to the event, as the civic body wants to charge them for the mess created. Pic/Bipin Kokate
Civic officials said they had to employ considerable manpower to clear the streets, due to which they have taken the decision to not return the deposit amount of Rs 29 lakh. The civic body will now send a notice to the organisers intimating them of their intention. The BMC had permitted the organisers to erect pandals on footpaths and certain stretches of the road for a day.
MiD DAY had yesterday reported on how marathon contestants had to sidestep empty water bottles strewn across the streets during their run on the Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL). Apart from being hazardous, the empty bottles had also slowed down runners.
However, the litter that was reported on BWSL was cleared on the same day after the event, and reportedly MSRDC will not charge the organisers. Mohan Adtani, additional municipal commissioner (City), said, "We will be retaining their (organiser) deposit, like we did last year.
They have submitted a deposit while taking permissions for using our roads and footpaths. Our manpower was used to clean the streets later, so we will be charging them for that." Interestingly, the race on Sunday also saw Additional Municipal Commissioners, Rajiv Jalota and SVR Srinivas participating in the run.
