Siliguri, Sept. 9: A Durga Puja organiser here has to collect no-objection certificate from the authorities by September 30, while those of Kali Puja has to obtain it by October 23.

The subdivisional administration today laid down some of the norms for Puja organisers in town.

“Decorators have to use coir ropes in pandals and must leave a 8ft gap between the structure and the overhead high tension electrical wire,” said Smita Pandey, the subdivisional officer, Siliguri.

A team of officials from police, the power department, pollution control board and the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) will visit the pandals during Puja. If an organising committee is found guilty of violating norms, it has to pay Rs 1,000 as fine and the permission for holding the next year’s Puja will be cancelled, she added.

The SMC will engage over 300 extra workers to keep the town clean during Puja, said mayor Bikash Ghosh. “There will be five immersion ghats on the bank of the Mahananda and sheds for dumping puja paraphernalia.”