Vasai-Virar civic body sets norms for Ganesh idols ……….Sandhya Nair
Mumbai: With mandals gearing up for Ganesh festival in September, the Vasai-Virar civic administration has issued guidelines on the height and weight of idols.
A meeting of mandal representatives with the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) mayor Rajeev Patil and Thane rural polices additional superintendent Sudhakar Pathare was organised early last week.
Patil requested mandals to restrict the size of Ganesh idols to six feet. It was also felt that the weight of the idols should not exceed 400 kg.
Patil told the mandals to take care of ponds and lakes in the region during immersion. The VVMC, he said, would make arrangements for the disposal of garlands, flowers and coconuts after the festival. This is the first time after the formation of the VVMC that the civic administration will be handling a huge festival.
The mayor stressed on the need to have one Ganesh idol per village. According to him, mandals at the village level should come together and organise one celebration. The VVMC assured the mandals of repairing the roads before the festival.
Pathare emphasised the need to maintain security in the mandaps. He said that they would not allow mandaps to be set up on pavements. He also warned mandals against using electricity illegally during the festival.
The VVMC will reward best Ganeshotsav mandals,