Pune: Representatives of several mandals participating in the joint meeting held at Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) headquarters on Monday to discuss plans for the forthcoming Ganesh festival demanded celebrations free of restrictions, especially on DJ music systems.Mandals said they would not use plasma systems and lasers as part of celebrations, but there should be no restrictions on use of music speakers. Mayor Manjusha Nagpure, who chaired the meeting, welcomed the decision and said elaborate arrangements would be in place for the 10-day celebrations.Representatives complained of facing too many hurdles, maximum pertaining to permissions, playing of speakers and charges being imposed by PMC. Nagpure said steps would be taken to ensure least impediments to get required permissions, but mandals would have to complete all formalities.Preparations for the Ganeshotsav have started across the city, with pandals being installed.Nagpure said mandals would not have to pay any charges to PMC to erect advertisement boards and arches. She said each mandal would be digitally mapped and all information would be available online allowing visitors to know the exact location of pandals.Joint police commissioner Sanjay Darade said the department would take elaborate steps for the Ganesh festival. Mandals had put forth their issues and demands which would be discussed.Nagpure told PMC to appoint one nodal officer each for all 15 civic wards to look into the issues of mandals.BJP city unit head Dheeraj Ghate said he would approach chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on behalf of all mandals with a demand to make the festival restriction-free.Mandals have also demanded sound relaxation till midnight on the day of Dahi Handi.Narayan Peth resident stopped from voicing concerns over noise pollutionA resident of Narayan Peth present for the meeting raised concerns over noise pollution. However, mandal workers stopped him from voicing his grievances. They said the administration should call a separate meeting of citizens to discuss the festival celebrations. Nagpure told reporters that she was not aware of the incident and said people could approach her to put forth their suggestions.
