Cuttack, Sept 4: With Ganesh Puja scheduled to begin in the city from September 14, the Cuttack Commissionerate Police on Friday held a preparatory meeting with office-bearers of various puja committees to ensure the festival and subsequent idol immersion processions are conducted peacefully and smoothly.
The meeting was held at Sahid Bhawan and chaired by DCP Rishikesh Khilari.
Police Commissioner S. Devadatta Singh, who attended the meeting, said that illegal or forced collection of donations for Ganesh Puja would not be tolerated. He also advised puja committees against making distorted or objectionable idols.
The Police Commissioner proposed introducing a single-window system for obtaining the various permissions required for Ganesh Puja, cultural programmes and immersion processions. He said that since obtaining clearance from the Fire Services Department sometimes takes time, efforts should be made to bring other government departments together at a single location so that the required No Objection Certificates (NOCs) can be issued efficiently.
A final decision on implementing the proposed single-window system is yet to be taken and is expected soon.
Processions to be kept short
As per the decisions taken at the meeting, Ganesh Puja processions will be kept as short as possible. Each procession will be allowed to use four trolley rickshaws and six sound boxes.
Puja committees will follow their existing procession routes.
Police have proposed conducting idol immersions on three Sundays following Ganesh Puja. According to DCP Khilari, the first phase of immersion will be held on September 20, the second on September 27, and the third on October 4.
However, the Cuttack Peace Committee and the Mahanagar Puja Committee have suggested that the immersion of the Budha Ganesh idol, scheduled for October 4, be held on October 11 instead. If the police accept the proposal, some Ganesh idols will also be immersed on October 11.
The DCP also directed puja committees to use high-quality electrical wires and equipment at the puja mandaps to prevent electrical accidents.
Demand for road repairs
Members of the Cuttack Mahanagar Peace Committee urged the administration to repair city roads ahead of the festival, citing the need for better traffic movement and public safety during the celebrations.
The meeting was attended by Cuttack Mayor Subash Singh, MLA Soubhik Biswal, Additional Police Commissioner Narasingh Bhol, Mahanagar Puja Committee secretary Prabhat Tripathy, CMC Commissioner Kirandeep Kaur Sahota, Zone-3 ACP Ananya Agasti and representatives of various political
