Nagpur: Be it Ganeshotsava, Durgotsava, birth-day celebration and even marital functions, etc, the pendals or mandaps are erected so liberally on roads adjoining the houses and other roadside constructions that the passage becomes obstructed either for vehicular traffic or pedestrians. In addition, the loudspeakers used cause a severe sound pollution. Considering this difficulty seriously, the NMC has issued new guidelines, during its meeting on Aug 17, for the citizens who would erect pendals and create overcrowding on roads and public utility areas.
Henceforth, each erector of pendal will have to seek, at the rate of Rs 10 per sq ft for usable space, permission of the area-wise nearest police station, traffic police, pollution control board, attaching the certificate of electricity department, and apply for final permission to the NMC a month in advance. The NMC feels that the process of seeking permission has been deliberately made so complex that it would avoid over crowding of pendals.
The meeting, held in Nagar Bhavan, Mahal, was presided by Mayor Pravin Datke and the new guidelines were unanimously approved in the interest of public. Even the minute points like digging of road and thus damaging it by making holes, sound pollution, inconvenience to passers-by, etc, were discussed in the meeting.
The guidelines further include, as follows: 1) Digging of ground for erecting mandap or pendal is disallowed, 2) Rs 10 per sq ft charges for usable space, 3) Rs 5,000 to be deposited as advance caution money, 4) Department-wise permission and inspection fee Rs 500, 5) Rs 100 as penalty per hour, in case the pandap or pendal is not removed with three hours of its use, 6) NMC reserves the right to initiate criminal proceedings if the pendal or mandap is not removed even within 24 hours, 7) If the garbage or the dirt is not removed and the site is not kept clean, the amount of fine will be deducted from the deposited caution money, and 8) Application for erection of pendal or mandap is to be moved a month ago with requisite documents.
Rajeev Ranjan Kushwaha (rajeev.nagpurtoday@gmail.com)
