OUR CORRESPONDENT
SIVASAGAR: With the aim of preventing mass infection of COVID-19 and celebrating the upcoming Durga Puja following all safety measures, the Sivasagar district administration held a meeting with the representatives of various puja committees of Sivasagar at the Syukafa Conference Hall of DC's Office, Sivasagar.
Presiding over the meeting, Additional Deputy Commissioner Bitupan Neog urged the representatives of the puja committees to adhere to the rules and instructions issued by the government and health department to prevent the mass infection of COVID-19 disease during the upcoming Durga Puja celebration. He asked the puja committees to apply for administrative permission at once. He also advised the representatives of the puja committees to organize the puja in an environment-friendly manner and to create idols using natural colors and materials. He also stated that the height of the statue cannot be more than 5 feet. He urged not to use any high-sounding music instruments or mikes from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am. He asked the puja committees to get the priests vaccinated compulsorily. He also asked to ensure hand washing and sanitizer arrangements for devotees and visitors at puja mandaps and to ensure that they wear masks and maintain social distancing.
He also informed that there would not be any fair, chat house, food shop or temporary shops near the puja mandaps. The Additional Deputy Commissioner also urged not to use any kind of plastic material or thermocol in the puja pandal. He also said that there would not be procession during immersion. He also said that every puja committee could use only two vehicles for immersion. He urged to take off the ornaments worn by the idols before immersion. He also said that CCTV should be installed in the puja mandaps as well as generators and fire extinguishers such as easy-to-carry fire machines, sand bags and water should be stored. He also stressed regular cleaning of puja pandals. He also said that the emergency phone numbers of the puja committee and the administration should be stuck at the puja pandals along with adequate lighting. Puja committees were also asked to appoint volunteers for round the clock inspection of puja pandals.
Deputy Superintendent of Police N Singson appealed to the puja committees to ensure adequate lighting arrangements and CCTV installation around the pandals and to inform the police department about the details of the volunteers in advance. He also informed that a police control room would be set up in Dolmukh Chariali and mentioned that the control room would be active for 24 hours. He urged the puja committees and general public to inform police if any suspicious object or person is seen near the puja pandal.
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