Ganesh utsav is a very popular community event in Maharashtra and over the years the 11-festival has generated many controversies. This year the festival begins on September 17 and the Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray has taken up the cause of the Ganesh mandals.

He met on Wednesday Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to discuss grievances of Ganesh mandals like the high court ban on putting up pandals on roads.

Thackeray was accompanied by representatives of Ganesh mandals, who are opposed to the Bombay High Court decision of imposing a ban on erecting pandals on the roads during religious programmes and festivals.

"We had a satisfactory discussion on the issue and the CM was positive on it. I would not comment on whether he will make amendments in law, but the issues should be resolved," Thackeray told reporters after the hour-long meeting.

Later in the evening, Fadnavis held a meeting with a delegation of Ganesh mandals led by BJP Mumbai president Ashish Shelar. The CM touched on the subject of amending laws, if necessary, to ensure trouble-free celebrations.

Leptospirosis scare in Mumbai
With monsoon in full swing, Mumbai is in the throes of a leptospirosis scare after 12 people have succumbed to the disease in the past week.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that spreads through flooded or stagnant water contaminated with urine of infected rats.  The disease is easily curable with antibiotics, but most victims came so late for treatment that they died soon after hospitalisation.

Meanwhile, Mumbai health officials have reportedly said that they will sensitise around 10,000 private clinics across the city with respect to the disease.