Pune: As the city gears up for the prestigious Ganeshotsav celebrations, several Ganpati Mandals have voiced their dissatisfaction with the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL/Mahavitaran).

The Ganpati mandals have criticized the bureaucratic hurdles they face while trying to secure temporary electricity connections for the festival.

Ganpati mandal members expressed their frustration, highlighting that despite Mahavitaran's call for authorized connections, the process is fraught with delays and complications.

"You ask us to take authorized electricity connections, but when we approach you, we are made to run around. A deposit is taken for the electricity connection, but even after repeated requests, it is not returned," one Ganpati mandal member remarked.

With only a few weeks left before Ganeshotsav, the Ganpati mandals are concerned that Mahavitaran has yet to begin the process of issuing temporary connections.

Vinayak Ghate of the Ek Maruti Chowk Mandal noted, "Every year, we have to go through the same struggle to get a temporary connection. Despite having a five-year license from the municipality, we are unnecessarily asked to submit documents. Mahavitaran already has a list of committees that take authorized connections annually, so why this hassle?"

Echoing this sentiment, Sunil Pandey from the Vinayak Navyug Mitra Mandal Trust questioned why Mahavitaran does not issue quotations based on previous permits for Ganpati mandals that regularly apply for temporary connections.

"After the permit is issued, the electricity meter should be installed immediately to avoid unnecessary delays," he suggested.

Other Ganpati mandal members, including Rajendra Deshmukh of the Ek Maruti Kopa Mandal and Shyam Marne from the Sudarshan Mitra Mandal, shared similar grievances.

A recurring concern among the Ganpati mandals is the difficulty in reclaiming the deposit taken for temporary connections. Many suggested that Mahavitaran should either return the deposit within a month after the festival or carry it forward for the following year’s connection.

In response to these issues, the Ganpati mandals have outlined several expectations from Mahavitaran:

• Immediate implementation of a single-window system for processing applications.

• Prompt issuance of quotations to Ganpati mandals with previous permits.

• Installation of electricity meters once all necessary permits are obtained.

• Refund of the deposit within a month after the festival.

• Option to carry forward the previous year's deposit for the next year's connection.

With Ganeshotsav fast approaching, the Ganpati mandals are urging Mahavitaran to take swift action to ensure a smooth and hassle-free celebration.