Temple reps asked to take alternate route for Ganesh immersion

Temple reps asked to take alternate route for Ganesh immersion
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, SEPT 29
Taking no chances to deal with any situation in the aftermath of the Allahabad High Court on the Ayodhya land dispute, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Margao on Wednesday proposed to the representatives of the Swami Samarth Gad Temple to take alternate route for the Ganesh immersion ceremony on October 1.
The proposal, however, did not find favour with the President of the Temple located at Rumdamol-Davorlim, who maintained that the route cannot be changed given the involvement of religious sentiments as women perform aartis along the procession route after the flyover bridge.
The SDM had proposed that the immersion route from Kohinoor hotel near the Margao Municipal take the alternate route from Margao Residency-Loyola School, Comba railway crossing to Khareband as against the normal flyover-Chinchal-Khareband route.
The proposal was put to the temple committee at a meeting of the citizens from all religious communities besides police officers from the Margao police sub-division.
The SDM later told newsmen that the meeting was called as the 21 day Ganesh immersion procession coincides with section 144 of the CrPC imposed by the district Magistrate banning processions in the city.
“The Ganesh immersion procession was chalked out for the 21 day immersion ceremony long back and has nothing to do with Section 144. It is just a coincidence that the immersion procession and the prohibitory orders have come on one day”, he said.
Replying to a question, Johnson said all the members, except the Temple committee members, who attended today’s meeting agreed with the proposal to go for an alternate route. “The alternate route is just a temporary route suggested by the administration in view of the prevailing situation. We would explore solution to the problem”, he said.
Meanwhile, Margao Sub-Divisional Police officer, DySP Umesh Gaonkar, who attended today’s meeting along with DySP Traffic, Gajanan Prabhudesai, Margao PI Santosh Desai, Maina Curtorim PI Sidhant Shirodkar, later told Herald that no more meetings will be held on the issue.
He said the law enforcing machinery is all geared up to meet any law and order situation in the Margao sub-division in the aftermath of the Allahabad high court verdict on the Ayodhya land dispute.
“We have asked for additional police reinforcements to deal with any situation. The police would be deployed in strength in the city on the day of the Ganesh immersion”, he said.