Mumbai, Aug 27 (IANS) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday issued clear instructions during a high-level law and order review meeting for Ganeshotsav 2026, urging public Ganeshotsav mandals across the state to strictly comply with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations to ensure devotees receive pure, unadulterated prasad.
Highlighting that Ganeshotsav is Maharashtra’s State Festival, CM Fadnavis emphasised that mandals, local authorities and citizens share a collective responsibility to preserve the discipline, sanctity and cultural legacy originally envisioned by Lokmanya Tilak.
He instructed that mandals must undergo necessary guidance and training to meet minimum hygiene and quality standards set by the FDA. Administrators must expedite pending permissions, while traditional, long-standing mandals should receive fast-track processing for routine approvals.
Fadnavis directed civic authorities across all municipal corporations to keep procession and immersion routes pothole-free and properly lit at night. Under Section 143 of the BMC Act, eligible registered trust offices can apply for property tax exemptions with proper documentation. Police have been instructed to take strict action against violations of firecracker and loudspeaker decibel limits.
In line with High Court directives, officials will enforce eco-friendly practices to prevent water pollution from Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols, he added.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde urged seamless coordination among police, municipal corporations and mandals to ensure smooth arrivals and immersions. He said over 1,850 kilometres of roads in Mumbai have been concretised, and local administration must resolve remaining defects immediately.
Shinde said administrative processes are underway to grant mandals five-year single-window permissions. He urged organisers and volunteers to stay vigilant against rumours on social media and promptly report suspicious activity to the police.
He also directed mandals to inspect structural joints, welding, and bolts on large idols to prevent accidents during transport, and to maintain a safe distance between heavy structures and crowds.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has appealed to all Ganeshotsav mandals to take necessary electrical safety precautions and rely solely on official temporary electricity connections during the festival.
MSEDCL urged organisers to remain vigilant to prevent untoward incidents. Mandals must consider the height of overhead power lines along roads and narrow lanes when determining the height of Ganesh idols and the design of procession floats. Mandals must strictly follow safety regulations while setting up wiring and decorative lighting in pandals, with all electrical work done exclusively by certified contractors.
To facilitate the process, MSEDCL has streamlined the application system for Ganesh mandals, allowing organisers to apply online via the official website or mobile app for quick temporary power connections. It emphasised that no mandal should use unauthorised electricity connections and advised organisers to maintain a safe distance from power lines and poles while erecting pandals.
–IANS
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