HT Correspondent
SILCHAR, Sept 5: Along with the rest of the state, the Cachar district administration is also gearing up to hold Durga Puja festival without any hassle and jolt.
In this context, a meeting was held at the deputy commissioner’s conference hall in connection with the ensuing ‘Durga Puja festival’ here on Monday. All the puja committee and line departments were present in the meeting.
The meeting was presided over by district development commissioner, Rajib Roy.
After welcoming all the members, DDC Rajib Roy narrated at length the purpose of the meeting and hoped that the ensuing Durga Puja festival will be celebrated peacefully and harmoniously. During the discussion, it was stated that a letter had already been issued to executive engineer, Pollution Control Board, Silchar from district administration Cachar for inspection and to take necessary steps as per law for strict compliance of the pollution control guidelines.
DDC Roy talked about zero use of plastic, he mentioned construction of pandals and gates should be made without creating roadblocks, if already constructed the same should be removed immediately by the concerned puja committees.
Puja committees should contact PWD roads, NH, Building, SMB for obtaining necessary permission for N.O.C and fitness certificate. For taking temporary electric connection, permission should be taken from APDCL, NOC from the fire brigade, to follow rules and regulations for using loudspeaker system by the puja committees, while mentioning about sound pollution, it was stated that as per pollution control guidelines and as per Supreme Court’s order, the use of loud speaker is prohibited during 10 pm to 6 am and noise level of any sound system or a sound producing instrument should not exceed maximum of 65 decibel, it was also stated that music system/DJ system during the time of procession for immersion is also prohibited.
The information regarding routes and timing of the procession of idols should be brought into the notice of police well in advance.
APDCL will issue temporary certificates for electric connection to those committees who will procure permission from the competent authority.
DDC Roy also mentioned that CCTV cameras should be installed at all the puja pandals and volunteers should be engaged at the gates of the puja pandals for smooth passage of people so that no untoward incident happened in the queues during their viewing of Goddess idols.
There should be separate lines for men and women with proper signage displayed at the entrance.
Superintendent of police Numal Mahatta said that the law-and-order situation is under control, soon they will chalk out a full proof security plan. He also mentioned the name and the contact numbers of all the puja committee members and volunteers should be furnished well in advance, puja committees should keep fire extinguishers, sand, etc., ready in case of any emergency. He also urged the puja committees to organise procession peacefully without creating disturbances to others.
Executive engineer PWD roads mentioned that a few puja pandals of Silchar town which were constructed are creating roadblocks which may cause traffic jams, etc.
DDC Rajib Roy requested all concerned departments to expedite for issuing necessary permission to concerned puja committees as early as possible, he also mentioned that if any one is found taking unauthorised electric connection without taking proper permission from APDCL, strict action will be taken against such puja committees.
DDC Rajib Roy stated that single use of plastic should be avoided by the puja committees and instead of using plastics, they should use cotton, eco-friendly biodegradable materials, they can use banana leaves for taking food items served during puja. He also talked about solid and liquid waste management, he said there should be two separate dustbins with red and green colour with written instruction for disposal of solid and liquid wastes disposal in every puja pandals and SMB workers will bring these garbages produced to the disposal center.
The meeting was also attended by additional superintendent of police, Subrata Sen, executive officer, Silchar Municipal Board, Ashutosh Deka, all the circle officers of the district.
