02 June,2010 09:51 AM IST | | Vivek Sabnis
Makes alternative arrangements at own cost for people with bookings
The fate of 16 weddings scheduled over the next 15 days was hanging in the balance after a fire last week gutted a 200-year-old wada that functioned as a wedding hall in Shaniwar Peth.
Families of brides and grooms had paid Rs 70,000 for the arrangements for each of 16 weddings and now they did not have a hall to hold the ceremony.
But their worries dissolved when wada owner Vilas Palshikar ensured the families that in spite of the loss he had incurred, he would make alternative arrangements for all scheduled weddings so that no one would face any inconvenience.
"I was expecting around 10 per cent profit from each wedding during the season. But after the fire, I had to endure losses because the entire place is now in a shambles," said Palshikar. "It is my responsibility to ensure that I organise alternative places so that there is no disruption in any of the wedding plans."
Palshikar has booked Indira Moreshwar Sabhagruha, Varak Ashram Hall, Lawn Gardens, Sahawas Hall and even some PMC schools for the scheduled weddings.
Corporator Seema Sardeshpande has also extended his support.
"I have helped the 13 tenants who stayed at the old wada and I am ready to help Palshikar to make alternative arrangements for the marriages this season," said Sardeshpande.
Ashok Divte, who solemnised his daughter's marriage on May 29, admitted that he was a little shaken after the place was gutted. "But we got an alternative place at Indira Moreshwar hall and the marriage was well conducted by Palshikar. I am happy the marriage took place on the proper muhurt as prescribed by our priest," he said.
Palshikar said that apart from his wedding hall being reduced to ashes, he had to incur a further loss of almost 50 per cent to get the alternative arrangements made.
