Jalgaon completes 90% of pothole repairs on Ganesh immersion route

Jalgaon Municipal Corporation has stepped up preparations along the Ganesh immersion route to ensure the procession passes safely and smoothly this year. Municipal Commissioner Aditya Jivane said around 90 percent of the potholes along the procession route have now been filled. Alongside this, the corporation has begun trimming hazardous and overhanging tree branches along the route wherever necessary, so that tall Ganesh idols, decorated chariots and large vehicles do not face any obstruction.

Large-scale processions are taken out every year in the city for the immersion of Ganesh idols, during which large and tall idols are carried, and tree branches along the roadside often come in the way. In some places, hanging or weak branches posed a safety risk to the public and to volunteers taking part in the procession. Keeping this in mind, the corporation administration first identified the hazardous spots and then took precautionary measures. The entire exercise was carried out jointly by four departments of the corporation -- electricity, fire, environment and public works. Teams from these departments inspected the route and took action wherever required, bringing relief to devotees.

Pothole-filling work has been underway on the city's main roads for the past fifteen days. With Ganeshotsav approaching, the corporation has accelerated pothole-filling work on the immersion route and the main roads through which the Ganpati procession passes. In three to four wards of the city where this work had not yet begun, the commissioner has sent notices to contractors directing them to start work immediately.

The corporation has also appealed to Ganesh mandals to come forward and celebrate Ganeshotsav in an environmentally friendly manner. Mandals have been asked to pledge not just to plant trees during the festival but also to take care of them afterward. The corporation's emphasis is on celebrating the festival in a way that promotes safe immersion along with a message of environmental protection.

Throughout the exercise, carried out under the supervision of Commissioner Aditya Jivane, special attention was paid to avoiding unnecessary tree-cutting. Only those branches that obstructed the immersion procession, or were hazardous or hanging low, were trimmed as needed. In this way, the administration has tried to keep the immersion route clear while also preserving the city's greenery.