Jamshedpur: Safety and environment would be the focus of Jamshedpur Kendriya Durga Puja Samiti ( JKDPS) for this Durgotsav.
Durga Puja, the most awaited festival of the denizens is all set to begin. Several puja committees from across the city are busy making plans to give a different look to their pandals.
Samiti asked representatives puja committees to adopt green steps, focus on safety and abstain from forcible chanda collection.
The fire guidelines directs committees not using synthetic fabric in pandals, ensuring legal and insulated wiring, keeping fire extinguishers, sand buckets and water tanks handy. This time Jamshedpur will witness 300 pujas across the city as compared to last year�s 298.
�We have been told about the safety measure but we have been following it as best as we can. We have followed all the guidelines.,� said a senior member of the Jugsalai Puja Committee.
The Jamshedpur Durga Puja Kendriya Samity has also requested the administration to at least make concrete banks for all the ghats which are used for immersion. This too have been requested keeping safety on the banks in mind.
According to information, puja committees were asked to make elaborate arrangements to ensure security and cleanliness and hygiene at their respective campuses. The quality of food and other eateries served near the campuses of puja pandals should be proper so that the devotees.
The samiti threatened to take strict action against those who violate pandal safety norms and other guidelines.
Ram Babu Singh, general secretary of JKDPS said the members of the organisation have been directed to ensure that ensure cleanliness near their campuses.
Complains of garbage accumulating near pandals and waste thrown here and there have been received last year. The officials of puja committees need to keep it clean.
It may be mentioned that Jamshedpur Kendriya Durga Puja Samiti is the apex body of Durga puja and governs the organising of puja festival in city. There are 290 small and big puja committees that are members of KKDPS.
The general secretary also said that they would take up the issues of cleaning and developing the Subernarekha ghats with the district administration so that the immersion of the idols is held in a clean environment.
�We have also decided to ensure that no forcible donations are taken from the people. If we receive any complains we would definitely act against that particular puja committee,� noted Singh.
�None of the ghats are safe. There are total eight ghats which are used for immersion of idols and there is always a chance of accidents.
We have met the SDO Dhalbhum in this regard so that the administration can help construct a proper ghat and committees can actually immerse the idols safely. It is too dangerous when the Subernarekha and Kharkai river swells with water,� said Singh.
