Pune Municipal Corporation Pandal Policy-2015 PUNE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, PUNE Deputy Commissioner (Encroachment /Illegal Construction Removal Department) Subject : The procedure followed by the Pune Municipal Corporation while granting permission to erect temporary pandals / stages on the footpaths, roads of the Municipal Corporation during public festivals in the Pune city in accordance with the guidelines formulated by the Hon. High Court for celebrating public festivals. _________________________________________________________________________ PUNE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION – “PANDAL POLICY – 2015” (Authorized vide Pune Municipal Corporation Hon. Chief Meeting / Municipal Corporation Resolution No. 321, dated 18/9/2015) Revised copy as per accepted sub- notification in accordance with the said resolution ________________________________________________________________________ 1 Pune Municipal Corporation Pandal Policy-2015 Introduction Every year pandals / stages are erected in the area under the Pune Municipal Corporation by the respective public institutes, organizations and citizens on the public roads and footpaths of the Pune Municipal Corporation, on the occasion of various public festivals / celebrations by all the religions; for example, Ganesh / Navratri festival, Dahi Handi festival, Ramzan Id, Christmas etc, also on the occasions of anniversaries of all the national leaders. For the same, all the ward offices under the control of the office of the Deputy Commissioner (Encroachment /Illegal Construction Removal Department) of the PMC have been assigned the work of issuing official permission from the Pune Municipal Corporation, by charging rates that are approved from time to time by the Hon. Chief Meeting. But, the Hon. High Court, on 13 March 2015 and 14 March 2015, in the Public Interest Litigation No. 173/2012 presented before the Hon. High Court along with the Civil Application No. 124/2014, has discussed in detail about the rights the Commissioners of the Municipal Corporations have as per the Article 317 of Bombay Municipal Corporation Act 1888 and vide Article 234 of Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act in reference to the pandals being erected on the roads/footpaths on the occasion of public ceremonies and festivals, and has instructed the government to take action accordingly. In view of that, as per the official letter dated 6 July 2015 from Government of Maharashtra, Urban Development Department, Government Circular Number Ligitation 2015/S.No.878(1)UD 34, Mantralaya, Mumbai-32, the Pune Municipal Corporation has received orders, regarding the above issue, to formulate a comprehensive pandal policy as per the orders given by the Hon. High Court and implement it. Accordingly, the new Pune Municipal Corporation – Pandal Policy-2015 was approved as per the Hon. Chief Meeting Resolution No.321 dated 18/9/2015, which was formulated by the Pune Municipal Corporation by following the guiding principles given by the Hon. High Court, in order to give permission to erect pandal / stage / arch / running pandal on the public roads/footpaths during the festival time ensuring that public festivals, celebrations are conducted peacefully and smoothly. Administrative approval for the implementation of the same has been taken as per Hon. Municipal Commissioner Resolution No.6/62 dated 20/5/2016. Henceforth, permissions for erecting pandals / stage / arches / running pandal etc. on Municipal Corporation roads/footpaths during public festivals / celebrations in the Pune city will be granted as per the rules and terms/conditions stated in this revised policy. If all those associated with celebrations of public festivals/celebrations take the necessary permissions as per the new policy and follow the approved terms/conditions strictly then it will not cause hindrance to traffic or pedestrians during the festival period; festivals/celebrations of all the religions can be celebrated appropriately all through the year without adversely affecting the normal activities of the people and by safeguarding public sentiments. 2 Pune Municipal Corporation Pandal Policy-2015 Procedure to procure Pandal / Stage permission and terms and conditions about the same • The way / method to submit the application: To get permission for the area on which the concerned people want to erect a pandal / stage / arch, the people associated with the celebration should submit an application with the respective ward office of the Pune Municipal Corporation at least 5 days prior to the festival/celebration along with the necessary documents, maps and “No Objection Certificate” about prior permission from the Police Inspector and Traffic Police of the respective Police Station who have been authorized by the Hon. Commissioner of Police. The concerned Municipal Deputy Commissioner of Pune Municipal Corporation shall grant the permission to erect temporary pandal/ stage / arch as per Article 234 of Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act 1949, after verifying the necessary documents enclosed with the application and after examining the following points as prescribed in the policy. 1. Necessary documents to be enclosed along with the application: a. Previous license holders – If the details in the application such as dignitaries of applicant mandal / organization, the place of pandal / stage / arch and its dimensions including length-breadth-height are the same as in the previous year’s license then such applicants should produce Xerox copies of all documents regarding previous year’s authorized license for erecting pandal /stage /arch as well as a “No Objection Certificate” issued by competent authority of traffic police department. b. New applicants or license holders with some changes - 1) Rough map of the place where the structure is to be erected along with measurements of length, breadth and width of the structure as well as the width of the adjacent road. 2) “No Objection Certificate” issued by competent authority of traffic police department. c. The necessary information about the Chairman, Vice-chairman, Secretary and Applicant of the concerned society / organization / mandal and if it is an individual applicant then his / her information along with their photo, complete name and address, contact number and signature. 2. Before granting permission it shall be verified whether the concerned applicant has submitted “No Objection Certificate”, issued by the competent Police Inspector / Local Police Station as well as that issued by competent authority of Traffic Police Department, for erection of temporary pandal / stage, and also has submitted a rough map with length, breadth and height of the temporary pandal/ stage that is to be erected. 3. The height of the pandal should not be more than 40 feet. If the applicant wishes to erect a pandal of more than 40 feet height then from the perspective of safety, the concerned applicant should attach with the application a Structural Stability Certificate issued by an authorized Civil Engineer. 4. No pits shall be dug on the PMC footpaths during erection of temporary pandal / stage. If it is observed that such pits are dug at the said place or any damage to any public property is done then the concerned people will be charged with a fine of Rs. 2000/- per pit and the fine shall be recovered from them. Similarly, further legal action will be taken against the concerned people. No pits shall be dug on concrete roads; if such pits are dug then a fine of Rs.2000/- per pit will be charged for the first year. If it is observed that pits are dug the following year also then after recovery of fine, it will be treated as a legal offence and the same will be registered as crime. 3 Pune Municipal Corporation Pandal Policy-2015 5. If the people erecting the pandal / stage need to use electricity and water, as required, during the festival time then it shall be necessary to get a temporary, authorized, independent connection from the respective department. If it is observed that electricity connection has been illegally procured from the electric polls on the Pune Municipal Corporation roads then legal action will be taken against the concerned people after filing a case in the local police station. 6. The concerned people can not display advertisements, in an unauthorized manner, of products / goods of other manufacturers, courtesy to the concerned mandal, on the festival pandal / stage or skirting border of the pandal. To do so, official permission can be taken from the Pune Municipal Corporation to display advertisements in the area of up to 50 m distance from the main pandal by setting up a running pandal and as per the “No Objection Certificate” from the local police and traffic department by making a payment of Rs. 500/- towards license fee for advertisements. However, for all the advertisements displayed by taking such a permission, it shall be abiding to display advertisements of projects run by the Municipal Corporation on one-fifth (1/5th) part of the area. But, if more than one mandal / organization comes in the periphery of 50 metres then the said distance shall be equally divided between them and accordingly, permission to display advertisements shall be given. But, no mandal / organization can display advertisements by putting up a running pandal beyond 50 metres from the main pandal. If there are any complaints regarding the advertisements displayed, the concerned mandal / organization shall be entirely responsible for it. 7. It shall be binding upon the concerned applicant to observe the noise levels of