Bhubaneswar, Sept. 30: Police have decided to initiate action against members of Puja committees that would indulge in forcible collection of donation.

With Durga Puja round the corner, the police have also asked the organisers to install CCTV cameras to monitor people’s movement.

“We have issued a guideline for the public to report forcible collection of donation by dialling 100. Action will be taken against the organisers indulging in forceful collection of donations,” said police commissioner R.P. Sharma.

The police have also started a four-day drive since September 28 to book habitual offenders. The cops will also intensify a drive against drunkards.

The police have also asked the organisers to deploy their volunteers around the pandals to assist them in crowd management.

Moreover, the organisers have been asked to ensure that loudspeakers do not operate after 10pm and maintain the maximum sound limit of 65 decibel.

“Our focus will be to prevent criminal elements from entering the city. Night patrolling will be intensified. The police needs co-operation of the Puja organisers and the residents for a peaceful Durga Puja,” said Sharma.

Durga Puja preparations are now in the final stages in the city. Around 150 pandals will be built in the city to celebrate the occasion.

The police have decided to put up check posts on roads to prevent criminal activities such as snatching during the festive days.

The cops will also start a drive to penalise vehicles parked illegally on major roads across the city.

A large number of city residents complain about the forceful collection of donations by various Puja organisers. “One person has to donate for a number of Pujas throughout the year. But, the donations should be purely on a voluntary basis. However, in the majority of the cases, people are forced to pay up exorbitant amounts,” said Damana resident Swarup Sahu.

On the other hand, member of a Puja organiser said they did not force people to donate money.

“We never demand donations. It is up to the residents to decide the amount of donation they want to contribute,” said secretary of the Ashok Nagar Puja Samiti Arvind Das.