September 5, 2006
Pune:Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) along with fire brigade had erected barricades at the banks of river Mutha to prevent devotees from immersing Ganesh idols in the river. Staunch Hindus thus enabling devotees to immerse Ganesh idols in the river have broken down these barricades.

Since morning, the area around banks of Mutha river was closed with barricades of bamboo's and devotees were not allowed to go to the river-banks. Staff of fire brigade and PMC was employed to prevent people from going to the river. Around 4.00 p.m. in the afternoon, members of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) went to the site when they realized that people were prohibited from immersing Ganesh idols in the river. When they enquired with the staff of fire brigade and PMC, both were passing the buck on each other. Shri. Ekbote, the local municipal councilor contacted the additional Municipal Commissioner (AMC) and informed him about the situation. Under the leadership of Shri. Ekbote, the barricades were removed by staunch Hindus. Then the devotees could go to the riverbank and immerse Ganesh idols. HJS members were explaining the science of immersion of idols in flowing water through the medium of hoarding, banners and pamphlets etc. Other Hindu organizations also joined HJS members.