Sculptors make idols ahead of Ganesh puja in Cuttack. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Aug. 22: Community policing is going to play a key role to ensure smooth conduct of Ganesh Chaturthi festival,which is celebrated in a grand manner in this city.

Sources in the city police said that volunteers and special police officers would be appointed from various puja committees across the city in which local youths would be assigned the responsibility to smoothly conduct the festival.

Adequate security measures would also be taken for maintaining law and order during the Puja, which will be observed across the state on September 19.

Ganesh Puja also marks the beginning of a festive season, which is followed by Dussehra, Diwali and Bali yatra. Therefore, the city police will also try to resolve ongoing disputes between various puja committees by organising meetings through various police stations.

The first preparatory meeting for smooth conduct of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival was organised by city police here yesterday evening.

“Our focus would be on communicating with the people. Efforts are on to ensure that the festival is observed peacefully,” said police commissioner Sunil Roy.

Roy added that a detailed security plan would be prepared subsequently, in which all the clubs and other puja committees would be asked to follow certain guidelines for smooth conduct of the festival. Over 700 clubs observe the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, the immersion ceremony which will be conducted in three phases starting from September 26.

Those conducting special rituals during the Ganesh Puja have also been asked to complete their immersion ceremony by October 14.

“To curb noise pollution, the high court has ordered that various cultural programmes organised by the Ganesh Puja committees should not go on beyond 10pm. The committees have also been asked to play their loudspeakers within the permissible limit of 65 decibels,” Roy said.

Various Puja committees have also passed a resolution to use organic colours for idols to prevent water pollution during immersion.

“The Ganesh Chaturthi festival will be conducted according to the decisions taken at the preparatory meeting organised by the city police,” said puja committee secretary Prabhat Tripathy.