Mandals flout all guidelines, resulting in irresponsible crowding across the city, while on the other hand lax BMC passes the buck to the city police
The Lalbaugcha Raja idol, surrounded by a crowd and cops, being taken for immersion on Sunday. Pic/Shadab Khan
Safety norms and fear of Covid were forgotten on the last day of Ganeshotsav, with mandals and citizens gathering in large numbers across the city for Ganpati visarjan. While the BMC blamed the police for the crowd, it thanked the public for maintaining peace and harmony. Smaller mandals called tasha parties to perform inside their compounds to avoid police action, while roads were largely free from processions.
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Lalbaugcha Raja, one of the most popular Ganesh idols in the city, attracted huge crowds near the mandal as well as along its immersion route towards the Girgaum Chowpatty. Even many committee members of the mandal were seen not wearing masks properly. They had more than 10 members accompanying the idol to the immersion spot.
The Lalbaug Sarvajanik Utsav Mandal—Ganesh Galli—started at 10 am on Sunday and immersed their idol around noon. In the case of the Lalbaugcha Raja, it took place at 4 pm. Despite repeated attempts, Sudhir Salvi, Secretary of the Lalbaugcha Raja Ganeshotsav Mandal was not available for comments.
A devotee with a tiny Ganpati idol at Girgaum Chowaptty. Pic/Ashish Raje
Considering the pandemic, the BMC had brought out a host of norms for mandals to ensure Covid-appropriate behaviour, including not to drive slowly on purpose like done during processions and to have only up to 10 fully vaccinated individuals at the immersion site. Despite the clear directives, visarjan areas at Girgaum Chowpatty and Versova jetty were packed.
Deputy Municipal Commissioner Harshad Kale, who was in charge of Ganeshotsav, said, “All we can do is appeal to the citizens and also make arrangements for everything. BMC staff cannot be present for taking action and it is for the police to take necessary steps.”
The lane leading to the Lalbaugcha Raja idol is choked with people on Sunday. Pic/Atul Kamble
The civic body also appreciated the citizens for responding well to its call. “It is clear from the available statistics that the citizens of Mumbai have responded very positively to these appeals and have given priority to the celebration of Ganeshotsav in an environmentally friendly manner in addition to cooperating for the more effective implementation of Covid preventive measures. At the same time, with the help of Mumbaikars, this year's Ganeshotsav has been held in peace and keeping the sanctity of the festival,” said the civic body in a press statement.
The corporation said about 1.65 lakh Ganesh idols were immersed in 73 natural spots, like the sea and lakes, and 173 artificial lakes all over Mumbai. Of these, 82,339 idols were immersed in the natural sites and 75,890 in artificial ponds of the civic body. While 77,814 were household Ganesh idols, 4525 were idols from sarvajanik mandals.
Devotees at a sarvajanik mandal on CD Barfiwala Road in Andheri. Pic/Satej Shinde
Floral offerings collected
During the 10-day festival, the BMC’s solid waste department collected 2,65,279 kg of ‘nirmalya’ or offerings comprising flowers, durva or sacred grass. The highest amount of nirmalya—60,900 kg—was collected on the fifth day of Ganeshotsav. Officials said the nirmalya is being processed at 38 sites and the manure made from it will be used in municipal parks.
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