Shiv Sena (UBT) on Tuesday organised 'Aarey Jan Awaaj Andolan'. The rally was attended by scores of people including MLA Dattaram Waikar. Photos/Anurag Ahire
The rally was organised to let the state government know the condition of the internal roads in Aarey and the ban imposed on the immersion of the Ganesh idol in the Aarey lake.
Despite requests from Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray’s Shiv Sena MLA Ravindra Waikar, seeking permission for the immersion of Ganesh idols at Chhota Kashmir lake in Aarey Milk Colony, an official from its CEO’s office said August 25 that this cannot be permitted due to the Eco-Sensitive Zone notification
Every year, the Chhota Kashmir lake in Aarey Milk Colony witnesses the immersion of around 5,000 small and medium-sized idols during Ganeshotsav. Additionally, locals also immerse idols at the Lotus lake near Aarey hospital.
On August 17, MLA Ravindra Waikar wrote a letter to the Assistant Municipal Commissioner of BMC, Aarey CEO, and Senior Police Inspector of Aarey police station asking them to reconsider the decision taken by the administration to ban the immersion of idols in Aarey Milk Colony.
On August 3, Mid-day ran a story ‘Provide artificial tanks at Aarey for visarjan’, shedding light on NGO Vanashakti’s efforts. With the Ganpati festival approaching, the NGO has appealed to the state environment department and other relevant bodies to prevent idol immersion in Aarey’s water bodies due to its location within the ESZ of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
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