Shillong, Sep 30: The East Khasi Hills district administration has stepped up preparations for Durga Puja, directing puja committees to put in place safety and crowd management measures at pandals.
Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal said a detailed meeting has been held with the Central Puja Committee (CPC), police, PWD, MeECL and other departments to ensure peaceful celebrations.
Puja committees have been instructed to install CCTV cameras and deploy volunteers, DDMA Aapda Mitra personnel and Home Guards.
Directions have been issued for separate entry and exit points and to maintain safe distance between cooking areas and inflammable materials. Sector magistrates will inspect pandals to ensure compliance.
Baranwal said the immersion ghat, being developed under the riverfront project, has been inspected and instructions issued to the contractor to prevent any untoward incident. The number of persons accompanying each committee during immersion and timings will be regulated.
The CPC has sought early permissions from various departments, which the administration is coordinating, he said.
The administration is also raising low-hanging electrical and telecom cables along idol procession routes to avert mishaps.
