CM to finally meet city mandals over eco-friendly Ganpatis

Updated On: 31 August, 2011 07:10 AM IST | | Urvashi Seth

After repeated attempts, Prithviraj Chavan finally agrees to meet organisers today to discuss ways to make cheap eco-friendly deities

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CM to finally meet city mandals over eco-friendly Ganpatis

After repeated attempts, Prithviraj Chavan finally agrees to meet organisers today to discuss ways to make cheap eco-friendly deities

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan does believe in the saying better later than never.

After repeated attempts by organisers of Ganesh mandals to meet Chavan, the CM has finally decided to meet organisers today to discuss how to make the 10-day festival more eco-friendly.

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An artist applies the final touches to sculptures ahead of Ganeshostav

Ironically, the meeting was held just two days before the festival.

Fed up of constant notifications to make eco-friendly idols, representatives from the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti (BSGSS) have decided to seek help from the CM.
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Organisers have grumbled that making deities eco-friendly was heavy on the pocket and demanded that the cost should be borne by the environment department, which falls under the CM's supervision.

"We are going to place our demands of providing concessions to idol makers as the cost involved is too high.
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The government needs to make provisions that enables all to make eco-friendly deities without putting a strain on the pocket," said Naresh Dahibawkar, President of BSGSS.

Echoing the same angst, Ulhas Kamat, spokesperson from GSB mandal, Wadala said, "If the government wants the eco-friendly idols, they need to provide makers with concessions."

And it isn't just concessions for eco-friendly materials that will be discussed at the meeting.

Pothole-ridden city roads, one of the big concerns will also be tabled during the conference. "We have submitted the findings of our report to the BMC about potholes.