Cuttack, Aug. 28: Police have decided to take strict action against those indulging in extortion in the name of puja donation this year.

The cops have come up with a zero tolerance policy to ensure not a single businessman, bus owner or local resident is harassed by puja organisers. Stern warning has been issued to organisers, including clubs and associations, ahead of Ganesh Puja, which starts from September 5. Moreover, members of associations, clubs and puja committees have been asked to register themselves with local police stations.

The registration process will help in police deployment and traffic regulation near puja pandals and major junctions of the city.

A senior police official told The Telegraph that officials of the puja committees and the officials of local sahi committees had been asked not to collect forcible donations for Dusshera.

"The police plan to provide protection to the residents harassed for chanda (donations) during the festive season," said police commissioner Y.B. Khurania.

Khurania said officials at police station levels had been asked to keep tabs on illegal activities and a list of goons was being prepared for maintaining strict law and order.

"Our focus is to ensure the festive season, which starts from Ganesh Puja and continues till Bali yatra, goes on smoothly and for that adequate security arrangements will be made," Khurania said.

Police officials said a special drive against illegal sale of liquor and criminal activities would be launched ahead of the festive season.

"We have issued strict regulations to stop forcible donations. Stern action will be taken for any kind of violation," said deputy commissioner of police Sanjeev Arora.

More than 1,300 clubs and youth associations of the city celebrate Ganesh Puja. Big clubs spend about Rs 8 to 10 lakh on puja pandals.

This year, the police have decided on three dates for the immersion ceremony of Ganesh Puja. Idols will be immersed in five temporary ponds along the Kathajodi and the Mahanadi rivers on September 11, 18 and 25, respectively.

"We are ready to follow the police guidelines. But we are concerned about the poor road conditions due to the construction of the integrated sanitation project. This is likely to create problems during the immersion ceremony," said Cuttack Mahanagar Shanti Committee secretary Bhikari Das.