'Fine Government Over Each Pothole...': Uddhav Thackeray Opposes Fines For Potholes By BMC On Mumbai's Ganesh Mandals

Mumbai: After took back the hike in rise in fine for potholes created during procession head of Ganesh Chaturthi, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, stated that Ganpati mandals will refuse to pay fines for potholes created by their pandals unless the BJP-led state government first penalizes those responsible for the potholes on the Mumbai-Goa highway.

During his speech at Rangsharda Auditorium in Bandra, Thackeray urged the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the governing Mahayuti coalition to penalize Ganpati mandals for potholes. He emphasized that mandals would incur no penalties for any damages occurring during the festival celebrations, citing a recent BMC directive imposing a Rs 15,000 charge for each pothole created during pandal installations.

Each year, numerous Mumbaikars head to the Konkan area for the Ganesh festival, yet the trip is hazardous because of traffic and pothole situations on the Mumbai-Goa highway. Thackeray condemned rival parties for trying to take over the Ganpati mandals, stressing his dedication to maintaining the emotional connections that Shiv Sena (UBT) has with these groups. He emphasized that the Sena has controlled the BMC and will keep doing so.

Conversely, BJP Mumbai chief Ashish Shelar has focused on resolving mandal concerns to bring more organisers into the BJP fold. UBT leader Vinod Ghosalkar mentioned that the court has allowed the immersion of large Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols this year, requiring the BMC to resolve immersion problems by next year. Thackeray highlighted inconsistencies concerning environmental issues that are addressed only during festivals, not for major projects such as the Gargai dam.

Initially, the immersion of PoP idols in natural water bodies was prohibited; however, the Bombay High Court, following discussions, permitted the immersion of idols six feet or taller until March 2026, while idols shorter than this height cannot be immersed in natural waters, ensuring that sufficient artificial tanks for immersion are available.