Berhampur: With 17 days remaining for Dussehra festival, police have issued a set of guidelines to be followed by puja committees in Berhampur of Odisha’s Ganjam district.
The police issued the guidelines after a meeting of Berhampur SP Saravan Vivek M with the representatives of the puja committees in the city. In the meeting, the SP sought cooperation from the organisers, especially during the peak puja days. He requested them to strictly follow all the guidelines.
The SP stressed on the Supreme Court order on sound pollution during the festival. As per the norms, issued by the police, no blaring music will be allowed at the puja pandals after 10 pm. The organisers were told to arrange their musical shows and DJ programmes accordingly.
Every pandal must set up CCTV cameras to monitor the crowd and keep an eye on anti-socials. When erecting the pandals, it has to be ensured that those do not encroach the roads and block the traffic. Smooth traffic flow in the areas to avoid congestion must be ensured, the police said.
Similarly, all safety measures must be put in place while drawing electricity connection and displaying electrical show pieces at the pandals, the SP said.
Devi Durga will be worshipped at community puja in more than 75 pandals in the city this year.
