Don't use Shivaji Park for car parking during Ganeshotsav: HC

The Bombay High Court today said it wants the Maharashtra government and the Mumbai civic body not to allow the iconic Shivaji Park, declared a silence zone, here for parking vehicles from next year during Ganesh immersion and find an alternative site.
As the sprawling ground in Dadar, Central Mumbai, has been declared a silence zone by the HC, it can be used only for sports and not any other purpose. The HC's permission is required if the ground is used for cultural or other events.
Hence, the government and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) move the HC every year to seek permission for parking of vehicles at Shivaji Park during Ganesh immersion. This year, too, they did the same.

A bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka today asked the government and BMC to give an undertaking that it would find an alternative plot of land next year for parking vehicles during Ganesh immersion.
The bench was hearing separate applications filed by BMC and the government seeking permission to allow parking of vehicles at the ground during the Ganeshotsav which starts from September 5.
During the 10-day festival, hundreds of Ganesh idols are immersed into the sea by individual households and sarvajanak mandals (public organisations).
The bench observed that before considering the pleas, it would take an undertaking from them (the government and BMC) that they would find an alternative place for parking of vehicles from 2017 onwards.

The matter has been posted for hearing tomorrow.