DURGA PUJA COMMITTEE MUST OBTAIN LICENSES:SDPO

DURGA PUJA COMMITTEE MUST OBTAIN LICENSES:SDPO

10-OCT-ENG 10

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA------------------------------A peace committee meeting regarding Durga Puja was held on Friday evening at the Nawada Police Station premises, presided over by Sadar SDPO-1 Sushil Kumar. During the meeting, members of the peace committee presented their views.

On this occasion, Sadar SDPO-1 stated that no idol could be installed in any *pandal* (marquee) without a license; puja committees are required to obtain a license without fail. Office-bearers of the puja committees were asked to submit details such as their Aadhaar cards, contact numbers, idol immersion dates, and the number of vehicles involved, to facilitate appropriate police arrangements.

He instructed puja committee office-bearers, members, and volunteers to get ID cards made for the event. These ID cards should be large enough to be visible from a distance. Committees erecting tall *pandals* or elaborate decorations were directed to ensure robust electrical wiring and to prevent shops from operating immediately adjacent to the *pandal*. Arrangements for sand and water must be made near the *pandal* to tackle potential fire hazards, and CCTV cameras should be installed at the *pandal* and along the routes used by devotees.

The SDPO stated that only religious songs should be played within the *pandal* premises; religious posters and cartoons must not be displayed. Failure to comply would compel the police to take action against the puja committee. Committee members were also advised to ensure a proper public address system so that announcements could be clearly heard by the public. Nawada Station House Officer (SHO) Kumar Rajnikant, ward councilors, councilor representatives, and peace committee members attended the meeting.