Ganesh set to take a bumpy ride

NAGPUR: Lord Ganesh may be remover of obstacles but his power apparently stops short of moving those who run the Nagpur Municipal Corporation. With his festival round the corner, the Lord is set to take a bumpy ride from Chitar Oli to various mandals and homes as city roads continue to be in awful state.
The number of potholes on the roads are distinctly increasing and the NMC has turned a blind eye to them even after a few fatal accidents.Many artisans and devotees have to be extra cautious while carrying the fragile idols as the city roads continue to present a sorry picture.
The office bearers of big Mandals in the city said this was the yearly agony they underwent during Ganeshotsav. "We have to carry the Ganesh idol from Chitar Oli to Hilltop and this road is pockmarked still," said Prakash Gajbhiye, convener of Ekta Ganesh Mandal. Ironically, he is also the local corporator.
According to Gajbhiye, BJP-ruled NMC was not taking any heed of bad roads. "They have not spared even the Lord. Why have this indifference when we all are aware it's a festival of Maharashtra," he asked. He claimed that the idol of this Mandal was 25-foot high, perhaps tallest in the state.
President of Dharampeth Sarvjanik Ganeshotsav Mandal Baba Maind-a ruling party corporator-said that they would carry the idol according to traffic condition. He said potholes were a big issue because before installation, the idol should not suffer any damage. "We would not install the idol in the pendal because then it will be considered inauspicious," he informed.
Member of Shri Santi Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Ashish Budholiya said bringing the idol on road was risky. "The road near Chitar Oli is poorly maintained. We have to be careful to ensure that idols don't break," he said.
Many said they were now used to bad roads. President of Shri Ashtavinayak Bahu-uddeshiya Sanstha Munna Jaiswal candidly said that the roads still presented the same sorry condition as it had for many years. He said, "it is now no more a problem as we have had years of practice. The NMC has not taken any cognizance of this issue so we have adjusted to the situation." The pockmarked roads were still a disturbance and the authorities should start considering citizens' plight, he said.