Cleanest Durga Puja in Jamshedpur to be awarded

Jamshedpur, Oct 7: The cleanest Durga Puja committee in Jamshedpur, Mango and Jugsalai will be awarded based on cleanliness standards as a part of the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’. The initiative is being taken by the three urban local bodies—Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC), Mango Municipal Corporation and Jugsalai Municipal Council—under the “Swachh Survekshan 2024” campaign.

A competition for the cleanest Durga Puja pandal is being organized where each committee will be judged on 16 cleanliness parameters. The total score for the evaluation is 160 points, with each parameter carrying 10 points.

Deputy City Commissioner of JNAC Krishna Kumar, Additional City Commissioner of Mango Ranjit Lohra and City Manager of Jugsalai Rajendra Kumar stated that a team will soon be formed to inspect the pandals. “The teams will visit pandals and inspect their cleanliness standards and the top-performing committees will be awarded and encouraged,” they said in a joint statement. Prizes for first, second and third positions will be given along with consolation prizes.

The parameters for judging include the use of nature-friendly materials in the pandal and idol construction, usage of paper, leaves, jute, or biodegradable materials in the pandal, use of glass or paper cups for drinking water or juice, different queue arrangements for men and women at the pandal, placement of committee members with ID cards at the pandal, Self-organized cleanliness measures at the pandal, ensuring nearby vendors and citizens do not litter, campaigns against substance abuse, plastic use, use of biodegradable materials or LED screens for advertisements, proper placement and use of green and blue dustbins, separation of waste generated at the pandal, disposal of biodegradable waste through pit composting, handover of non-biodegradable waste to municipal authorities, designated areas for spitting, Idol immersion at a designated site, creative or innovative cleanliness initiatives by the committee or citizens.