Jamshedpur, Sept. 12 : This year Durga Puja committees will provide bhog pot in jute or cloth bags and also shun use of plastic in every way possible. The District Administration is motivating Jamshedpur Durga Puja Kendriya Samity for making this a plastic free puja.
The special officers of all the three local urban bodies � Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee, Mango Notified Area Committee and Jugsalai Municipality have been asked to ensure that the puja pandals do not use plastics near the puja venue.
The initiative assumes significance as the State Cabinet in a meeting held on September 5 this year has imposed a ban on the use of plastic carry bags, irrespective of thickness and size, barring only plastics used to package food products and milk and for use in nurseries.
Dhalbhum SDO Prabhat Kumar said that directives have been issued to all the local urban bodies officials and also to the Jamshedpur Kendriya Durga Puja Samitis about strict enforcement of the cabinet decision and making the puja venue a plastic free zone. The puja samitis have been directed to use their volunteers against carrying of plastic bags at the puja venue not only by the visitors but also by the vendors selling their products close to the pandals.
Jamshedpur Durga Puja Kendriya Samity (an apex body of 308 puja committees in city) general secretary, Rambabu Singh welcomed the step. He said that they want to turn Jamshedpur into a plastic free city so that the slogan of ‘Clean city, green city’ suits best. The administration wants to send out a clear message that using bio-degradable materials would only help the environment and make the city green in literal sense.
” Some of the puja samitis at Kadma and Sonari have already taken steps in this regard. We would sit and identify those puja pandals where this initiative can be taken. We would fully co-operate to bring this positive change in the city,”said Singh.
He went on to add that apart from persuading all puja committees to avoid use of plastic not only in puja pandals but also ensure that vendors do not use it. With the directive and threat of surprise inspection by the local civic bodies this year all the puja samitis will have to ensure that plastic use is prohibited in the pandal area.
According to information, puja committees have been 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. The samiti threatened to take strict action against those who violate pandal safety norms and other guidelines.
