Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 8: Authorities in South Andaman District have tightened preparations for Ganesh Puja celebrations scheduled from September 14, with organisers directed to comply with fire safety, traffic, electricity, cleanliness and law-and-order requirements during the festival and idol immersion processions.
A coordination meeting was held at the District Office to review preparedness and law-and-order arrangements for the celebrations, which will conclude with the immersion of idols. Officials from the Electricity, Fire, Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council (SVPMC), Information, Publicity and Tourism (IP&T) and other line departments attended the meeting along with presidents and secretaries of Ganesh Puja committees.
The administration issued specific directions to organisers on the arrangements required for the peaceful conduct of the celebrations. The instructions cover fire safety measures, traffic management, law-and-order clearances, electricity-related arrangements and cleanliness.
Line departments, including Electricity, Fire Safety, Health, Police, Port Management Board and SVPMC, have also been directed to take the necessary measures within their respective areas of responsibility for the festival.
To streamline the permission process, a Help-Desk/Counter will operate at the District Control Room. Organisers and participants can use the facility for relevant permissions through a single-window arrangement.
The authorities have also laid down specific conditions for idol immersion processions. Pooja committees must ensure that no person under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating substances takes part in the immersion procession. Committees have been directed to deploy sufficient volunteers to monitor participants and maintain discipline throughout the procession.
A separate restriction applies to the use of loudspeakers. Organisers must stop their operation by 10 pm, in accordance with the directives of the Supreme Court. Authorities have stated that any violation will lead to immediate seizure of the music system and the vehicle associated with it.
The administration has further limited the number of people who can accompany each idol for immersion. Pooja committees must ensure that only the permitted number of persons enters for the immersion process and must strictly enforce the direction.
The meeting and subsequent directions are intended to ensure that arrangements across the departments and festival committees remain coordinated through the celebrations and the concluding immersion process.
