Police will start elaborate arrangements in the city for Durga Puja from Chaturthi (September 29), officers announced on Sunday.
The announcement came at a meeting the police held with officials of various agencies and utility services and representatives of around 90 puja committees.
The agencies that were represented at the meeting — held at GD Birla Sabhaghar — were CESC, West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited, pollution control board, public works department, fire and emergency services and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
Officers in Kolkata police said additional deployment for the Puja — to control crowd, manage traffic and prevent crime — will start on Chaturthi. “All traffic restrictions related to Durga Puja will start on Chaturthi,” an officer said.
The issues that were discussed at the meeting
Roads: Several Durga Puja committees complained about the condition of roads in certain pockets of the city and requested agencies to get them repaired before the Puja. Mayor Firhad Hakim is scheduled to inspect Kolkata’s roads from Monday, officials of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation said.
“While responding to queries about when the road repairs would be over, KMC representatives said the inspection (by the civic authorities) will start on Monday,” said Kajal Sarkar, of the Bosepukur Sitala Mandir Puja Committee. “They said the mayor is scheduled to lead the inspection team.”
Civic officials said a major part of the repairs had been over and the whatever was left would be done in the next few days.
Besides road repairs, the team from the KMC will also ensure that trees are properly trimmed to allow adequate illumination.
Noise pollution: The police conveyed to the Puja organisers that it was mandatory to use sound limiters on microphones and that there was a ban on the use of DJs during the festival or immersion.
Immersion and carnival: The police repeated the dates for immersion — October 5 to 8 — which were earlier announced by chief minister Mamata Banerjee. The Durga Puja carnival will be held on Red Road on October 8. A senior police officer said: “Adequate arrangements will be made for repair and illumination of the ghats before the immersion.”
Traffic: Several Durga Puja committees complained of reckless driving by motorcyclists around the pandals. The police assured the organisers that they would take steps to curb the menace.
Round-the-clock safety: Some of the organisers demanded that the police be deployed throughout the night from Chaturthi. “We expect the crowd to start pouring in from Chaturthi. Usually, the police remain deployed till midnight. But it would be better if the force is available throughout the night,” said one of the organisers.
The police said there would be skeletal deployment at night on Chaturthi.
Idol-making
A group of students visited the artisans’ hub in Kumartuli on Saturday to see how idols are made. Students from Techno India University and the Bengal Institute of Technology came back with knowledge on idol-making, which will be used to make the goddess on their own campuses.
“The students have collected materials, which can be recycled like bottles and drums, over a period of time. We wanted them to visit Kumartuli so that they feel connected with the process,” said Manoshi Roychowdhury, co-chairperson, Techno India Group.
