Mumbai, August 1, 2013: The Sarvajanik Ganesh mandals will approach chief minister Prithviraj Chavan to demand a waiver of 15% tax on power consumption during the ten-day festival. 

Said Naresh Dahibawkar, who is part of the co-ordination committee for the forthcoming Ganesh festival, "We have decided to take a delegation to the CM to demand waiver on 15% tax on power." He said that a delegation had already met BEST chairman Nana Ambole and demanded that electricity connections should be given to all mandals on a priority. 

The BEST has assured the Sarvajanik Ganesh mandals that more than 90% electricity connections in the island city will be given within 24 hours after application. "If we get the application in the morning, we will install the power meter at the pandal by evening,'' said a senior official from the electricity wing. In 10% cases, where power load ishigh or cabling is required, it could take more days. 

BEST officials said that power will be supplied at a concessional rate of Rs 4.50 per unit while there will be a single window system for application. Dahibawkar added, "We have also been promised more BEST buses to cater to devotees visiting the pandals during the festival."

Source: The Times of India, August 1, 2013