Kolhapur: A plastic ban will be imposed inside Mahalaxmi temple premises during the nine day Navaratra festival according to president of Paschim Maharashtra Devsthan Samiti ( PMDS ) Mahesh Jadhav.Instructions regarding the same will be issued to all vendors soonThe PMDS controls the temples in Western Maharashtra. Office bearers of the management committee reviewed the preparations for Navaratra festival on Tuesday.Jadhav said, "PMDS has got a full time president after a gap of seven years. We are committed to ensuring security of the devotees during the nine day festival."He said, "Cleanliness is another concern before us. The temple will observe a complete ban on plastic during the festival period. All vendors will soon be instructed regarding the issue."Jadhav added, "We have jurisdiction inside the temple premises. Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) will be responsible for the vendors who sell offerings and other materials outside the temple. We have appealed to various organisations for paper bags.""The committee has organised various religious and cultural programmes during the festival in Bhavni Mandap. There are many issues such as parking and pandals that are pending. These will be solved under the temple's development plan," he said.The Mahalaxmi temple faces several issues such as lack of toilets, proper drinking water and dumping of garbage inside the temple premises. The administration has taken up cleaning and other works before the festival begins.Mahalaxmi is a famous pilgrimage site in the state. It hosts lakh of devotees during Navaratra festival.The biggest hurdle before the temple committee is parking facility. The temple has no proper facility for parking. Temple premises and surrounding areas experience traffic congestion during Navaratra.

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