The Ranchi district administration is working on the strategy for the smooth Durga Puja across the State capital. This is just not law and order but Covid-19 protocols will also be strictly maintained. As the Durga puja festival has started Ranchi police have started making necessary arrangements.
“Everybody will have to take precautions for a safe festival. For the last one and half years we have been facing due to Covid-19 so we have to make necessary arrangements. Maintaining law and order besides ensuring that guidelines related to Durga puja are followed by organizers,” said an official of Ranchi police.
In Ranchi district there are over 200 puja pandals where Durga Puja is celebrated at a grand scale. The disaster management department has already issued guidelines on Durga puja. No huge pandal has been allowed, besides, the height of the idol should not be more than five feet. Pandals will be constructed in such a way so that people take glimpses of idols from outside too. The distribution of prasad at the pandal will be prohibited. Besides, children and juveniles up to 18 years old will not have entry in the pandal. Even idol immersion will take place under guidelines and guidance of district administration.
Ranchi district administration had held a meeting with puja organizers on Monday and in the next couple of days more meeting will take place in Ranchi.
Besides, all police stations have been asked to separately conduct meetings of the peace and puja committees frequently so that members are regularly briefed about guidelines that need to be followed.
The district administration has decided to carry round the clock announcements through moving vans and fixed sound systems attached to integrated city surveillance systems. Through announcement people will be asked to maintain social distance besides not to make the puja pandal overcrowded.
Quick reaction teams are being formed to handle crowds to avoid thick gathering at any place. This will have to be done carefully and the members of quick reaction teams are being briefed about how to handle the situation. Usually the deployments at the puja pandals and public places will start from the sixth day of the puja when pandals are thrown open for public viewing.
Sources in the district police said that defunct CCTVs of integrated surveillance systems are being repaired and all puja pandals will have to install CCTVs.
This year there will be additional deployment and assessments are being made for the same. Round the clock patrolling through PCR, mobile tiger and beat policing will be done to prevent crime. Traffic plans are being worked out.