Splurge lakhs on decorations, but fail to buy metal detectors
Splurge lakhs on decorations, but fail to buy metal detectors
Despite terror threat looming large during the ongoing 10-day Ganeshotsav, Ganapati mandals seem to be doing nothing.
The mandals are spending lakhs of rupees on the decoration of their pandals but are unwilling to invest in security apparatus to thwart any subversive plans.
The police have requested mandals in the city to buy metal detectors as a precautionary measure to handle terror threats and other unruly activities. As part of the measure, the police also trained members from 400 mandals last week.
The training which is a yearly process was provided to make members more careful. Tips were given on being cautious about suspicious objects, handling unruly crowd and using detectors and other methods for safety.u00a0u00a0
Mandals feel metal detector is expensive and a one-time use product, so they are preferring man-power to these instruments.
'Need it on rent'
Mansingh Patole, president of Navgraha Mandal, Kasba Peth, said: "The police had asked us to either buy or hire metal detectors and also given us the name of the company.
But the company refused to give the detectors on rent. They cost around Rs 20,000. It's a one-time use for us as we won't be using it later."
Piyush Shah, acting-president of Sainath Mandal Trust, Budhwar Peth said that the police had promised them they would provide the detectors.
"We were told that the detectors will be provided to us but we are yet to get one. In the meantime, we have installed our own camera."
Rajendra Deshmukh of Akara Maruti Kopra Ganapati Mandal said that they wanted to buy one but it was not available in the market. "There are just two companies which sell these detectors and they are not available in the market."
Mandal members say human surveillance is the best way to keep a tab on their premises. Volunteers are working in shifts in each and every mandal.
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Nitin Pandit, treasurer, Tulshibaug Mandal said, "We have four members working in six different shifts throughout the day."
Suresh Pawar, Nimbalkar Talim Mandal Trust, said, "Instead of metal detectors, we have more than 30 volunteers who are present at the mandals during rush hour."
The police say they are ready to provide extra help to mandals to maintain security.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone I) Dnyaneshwar Phadtare said, "It's not necessary for the mandals to buy expensive detectors. They can go for the less expensive ones."
20,000
Approximate cost of one metal detector
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