Pune: PMC permits 500 stalls to sell Ganesh idols at 41 places

Pune, August 17, 2020: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) permitted the sale of Ganesh idols at 41 approved places in the city. Only 500 stalls will be allowed to set-up their shops for selling Ganesh idols this year owing to the nation-wide pandemic-led health crisis; which has especially affected Pune. Every year around 4,000 stalls are established and 4.5 lakh idols are sold across Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad area.

The places where the stall will be placed have been decided by Pune civic administration; areas like civic properties, amenity spaces and grounds can be utilised to set-up the stalls. The circular issued by PMC read, ‘stalls will be allowed to set-up at the approved locations only. It has also been instructed that all stall owners should abide by the social distancing norms strictly and ensure no crowding the place while purchasing idols.’

Pune Mayor Muralidhar Mohol said, “traders should follow all norms and social distancing. They can use the classrooms of municipal schools to place the idols. The civic administration should not charge high rents from them.” The local administration has also notified that setting-up stalls on roads or footpaths is banned. Action will be taken against these illegal stalls.

This year visitors are prohibited at the front gate of the Dagdusheth Halwai temple on Shivaji road during the 10-day festival that will begin on Saturday. A hoax call was made to check the promptness and alertness of the teams. A bag was placed in temple premises and Quick Response Teams, Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), a senior police officer, and rapid action teams were called from Pune police control room. The bag was removed from the temple premises by the BDDS team after the area was evacuated by the other teams. The temple will remain close for devotees, said Police inspector Ram Rajmane of Vishrambaug police station.