Go green

Sept. 9: The district administration has chalked out an elaborate plan to make this year’s Durga Puja a safe, eco-friendly and pleasant experience.

The deputy commissioner, senior superintendent of police, Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) commissioner and representatives of around 100 Puja committees discussed security measures including fire safety, hygiene and other related issues in a meeting yesterday.

The deputy commissioner of Kamrup (metro) district, Ashutosh Agnihotri, said, “Detailed guidelines provided by the fire department for the occasion was presented and suggestions by the pollution control board were discussed during the meeting. Security measures will be optimum to make Pujas safe for everyone.”

Last year, 385 committees had put up pandals across the city. Keeping in mind the importance and largescale participation during the festival, the administration, police, GMC and other agencies have decided to take elaborate measures to make the Pujas hassle-free.

Apart from security measures, the administration will lay emphasis on the use of eco-friendly material, provision of proper parking space and supply of electricity by the Assam State Electricity Board.

“We have asked the Puja committees to use eco-friendly material while constructing the pandals or serving food. Plastic dishes or glasses are used in largescale during the Pujas, which is not good for the environment,” said a district administration official.

The committees should enlist volunteers to assist police and traffic officials during the festival. “These volunteers will be briefed by the police at the nearest police stations,” the official said.

Provision for parking space near the puja pandals will be made mandatory this year.

“Near every Puja mandap, the committees should have parking space earmarked for the visitors. Traffic snarls because parking woes is a major problem during Durga Puja. This year, we aim to make traffic smooth,” he said.

Fire safety measures and prevention of fire hazards will be given top priority.

“It has come to our notice that many Puja mandaps use unauthorised electric connections during the festival. Moreover, the lighting should be done by authorised technicians to avoid mishaps like short-circuit or electric malfunction. The committees will have to install meters provided by the Assam State Electricity Board during the festival,” he said.

Moreover, the guidelines issued by the Assam State Fire Service Organisation include the use of fire-resistant material and fire extinguisher at the Puja sites.

“The Puja committees will have to take no-objection certificates from the fire brigade,” he said.

A circle-level meeting will be held shortly to discuss various micro-level issues related to the festival.