The Nagpur International Marathon will be held on Sunday, but much to the chagrin of motorists, arches for putting up hoardings and banners, and also route maps have come up a fortnight before the M-Day.
These arches are obstructing the view of motorists and creating an obstacle, some complained. At some places, the organisers have dug up holes on freshly-laid roads and erected tall bamboos. Although the banners are yet to be placed, the move by organisers had damaged the roads and is a threat for motorists as wells.
There, however, seems to be no clarity on how many days in advance arches are allowed to be erected and if separate permission is required for it. Incidentally, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) too has a role to play in the conduct of the event.
The marathon, which will be flagged off from Reserve Bank of India square, will conclude at Yeshwant Stadium. The event is held every year to mark the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Officials heading different departments in the NMC pleaded ignorance about the permission issued to the organisers.
Deputy commissioner R Siddiqui said, "We have received a letter requesting permission today. The organisers have sought permission from January 25 to 30. Since the process has been decentralised now, I have directed the individual zones to issue the necessary permissions after completing the due process."
If the letter seeking permission was submitted on January 25, how then were the bamboos erected several days ago and why was the NMC sleeping over the matter all these days? MP Vilas Muttemwar clarified, "We had a meeting on January 17 which was attended by NMC, police officials and others. We had requested for blanket permission then and we were assured that the permission will be granted and same will be conveyed to the zones. The permission was granted seven days back."
When asked why the arches were placed so many days in advance, he replied, "We need to erect 150 arches across the city and such a huge task cannot be undertaken at such short notice." Perhaps the Nagpur MP is not aware that organisers of the recently-concluded Mumbai Marathon erected arches and put up banners across the city only one day in advance!
A letter issued by the municipal commissioner on March 31, 2009 states that every hoarding for which permission was granted by the ward officer must incorporate the name of the organiser, date of issue and period for which permission was granted. The NMC collects Rs 5,000 fine for digging up roads to erect arches and Rs 2,000 as security deposit besides Rs 500 per day for permission for the arches on a daily basis. Besides, organisers are also expected to submit an affidavit stating responsibility for accidents, if any.
A high court ruling in this matter states that arches and banners can be placed only after completing due permissions from the authorities. The ruling also states that the arches and banners must not obstruct the view of motorists.
Although the NMC doesn't play a direct role, it lends support to the event, sports officer of NMC Hambirrao Mohite said. Students of NMC schools perform lezim and participate in cultural programmes at important squares during the event while teachers pitch in as supervisors. Last year, the NMC had sanctioned Rs 25 lakh to the event but this year, the organising committee has demanded Rs 75 lakh, which is yet to be cleared, he said.
These arches are obstructing the view of motorists and creating an obstacle, some complained. At some places, the organisers have dug up holes on freshly-laid roads and erected tall bamboos. Although the banners are yet to be placed, the move by organisers had damaged the roads and is a threat for motorists as wells.
There, however, seems to be no clarity on how many days in advance arches are allowed to be erected and if separate permission is required for it. Incidentally, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) too has a role to play in the conduct of the event.
The marathon, which will be flagged off from Reserve Bank of India square, will conclude at Yeshwant Stadium. The event is held every year to mark the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Officials heading different departments in the NMC pleaded ignorance about the permission issued to the organisers.
Deputy commissioner R Siddiqui said, "We have received a letter requesting permission today. The organisers have sought permission from January 25 to 30. Since the process has been decentralised now, I have directed the individual zones to issue the necessary permissions after completing the due process."
If the letter seeking permission was submitted on January 25, how then were the bamboos erected several days ago and why was the NMC sleeping over the matter all these days? MP Vilas Muttemwar clarified, "We had a meeting on January 17 which was attended by NMC, police officials and others. We had requested for blanket permission then and we were assured that the permission will be granted and same will be conveyed to the zones. The permission was granted seven days back."
When asked why the arches were placed so many days in advance, he replied, "We need to erect 150 arches across the city and such a huge task cannot be undertaken at such short notice." Perhaps the Nagpur MP is not aware that organisers of the recently-concluded Mumbai Marathon erected arches and put up banners across the city only one day in advance!
A letter issued by the municipal commissioner on March 31, 2009 states that every hoarding for which permission was granted by the ward officer must incorporate the name of the organiser, date of issue and period for which permission was granted. The NMC collects Rs 5,000 fine for digging up roads to erect arches and Rs 2,000 as security deposit besides Rs 500 per day for permission for the arches on a daily basis. Besides, organisers are also expected to submit an affidavit stating responsibility for accidents, if any.
A high court ruling in this matter states that arches and banners can be placed only after completing due permissions from the authorities. The ruling also states that the arches and banners must not obstruct the view of motorists.
Although the NMC doesn't play a direct role, it lends support to the event, sports officer of NMC Hambirrao Mohite said. Students of NMC schools perform lezim and participate in cultural programmes at important squares during the event while teachers pitch in as supervisors. Last year, the NMC had sanctioned Rs 25 lakh to the event but this year, the organising committee has demanded Rs 75 lakh, which is yet to be cleared, he said.
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