Even as all puja pandals are about to open their gates to devotees and are expected to attract thousands of footfalls every day for four days to be the least, Ranchi Mayor, Asha lakra alongwith officials of the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) inspected all major pandals in the RMC command area to assess preparedness with respect to basic arrangements at those places.
The Mayor’s inspection drive began from Bakri Bazaar and the drive focused on cleanliness, crowd management, drinking water, lighting arrangements on routes leading up to pandals besides measures taken by puja committees for emergency situations like first-aid.
The Mayor was accompanied by Additional Town Commissioner, Ramlakhan Prasad Gupta.
“I have asked them to keep their premises clean. We will assist in cleanliness everyday and considering the footfalls the exercise would be carried out twice in a day. Our cleaning staffs will work in two shifts for lifting garbage,” said lakra.
The Mayor assured that all cleaning vehicles and staffs would be stationed near the pandal premises to lift garbage between 4-8am and in afternoon.
All major drains near puja pandals would be unclogged before the usual day of opening the pandal for people to visit.
later, lakra visited other pandals which usually attract people like none other during Navratra. The Mayor’s inspection team made brief halt at pandals of Rajasthan Mitra Mandal, Bihar Club, RR Sporting and assured respective puja committees of complete assistance from the urban civic body in meeting requirements that are basic to increase experience of visitors who throng the pandals to enjoy the artistry and the grandeur of replicas of famous monuments.
“The RMC officials have been instructed to fill up pot holes with dust, make arrangement of water near pandal premises and fix street lights on roads that lead to the puja pandals,” added Mayor.
The head of the RMC board vowed to act against dumping of building and residues of construction materials on streets to ensure smooth flow of traffic during Dussehra.