GUWAHATI, Oct 14 - With a view to ensuring that no untoward incidents take place during the Durga Puja festivities, the Kamrup Metro district administration has issued a list of �dos and don�ts� to be followed by the puja organising committees.
The committees have been directed to cooperate with the administrative machinery in the implementation of all guidelines regarding safety and security.
As per the guidelines, the committees have been tasked to ensure complete safety of all temporary structures and electrical fittings and to keep a designated area for emergency evacuation.
They have also been asked to keep a medical team ready to handle any emergency and to appoint a sufficient number of male and female volunteers with easily distinguishable identity cards to deal with any untoward situation.
The committees have been told to inform the local police in advance about all the programmes and to comply with security regulations in case the puja pandals are to be visited by any VIPs or celebrities.
The committees will have to make provision for fire-fighting equipment like buckets, sands and fire extinguishers and also make provisions for crowd management, including setting up of barricades and separate exits for male and female devotees.
Functional public address systems will have to be set up by the puja organising committees and they will also have to make provision for drinking water as well as for maintaining hygiene and cleanliness in the pandals and their vicinity.
Proper cleaning of the area after the conclusion of the Durga Puja celebrations will also have to be undertaken.
As per the guidelines, the committees have been directed to submit a detailed list with the names and addresses of all office-bearers and volunteers to the nearest police station.
Rules regarding use of loudspeakers and noise pollution level will have to be adhered to and the committees have been told to keep the general area of the puja pandals clear of all dangerous articles.
Use of alcohol and psychotropic drugs has been banned at the puja venues.
The committees have been told to ensure guarding of the puja pandals and provide logistical support to the police personnel deputed for guarding the pandals.
The guidelines also call upon the organising committees to provide adequate illumination inside the puja pandals and the surrounding areas along with the provision of generators to ensure continuous power supply in case of power failure.
The puja committees will also have to open 24-hour helpdesks manned by its members or volunteers at the venues.
Installation of CCTV cameras in and around the puja pandals in consultation with the local police has been suggested.
For idol immersion, the puja committees have been directed to take out their respective processions by 11 am on the day of immersion.
They have been told to avoid bursting of crackers during the immersion procession.
As per the guidelines, puja committees must avoid defacing public walls, public properties and natural objects like trees with posters and banners. The committees have been further asked not to allow parking within the 100-metre radius of the pandals.
They have also been directed not to use highly inflammable items in the decoration of the pandals and avoid the use of plastic bags and other plastic items.
