Pramesh S Jain
The installation and worship of Ganesh idols made of Plaster of Paris (PoP) has been completely banned in the city Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao appealed to the public to install and worship only eco-friendly Ganesh idols.
He addressed the “Peace and Harmony”meeting organised today at Puttanna Chetty Town Hall through the joint collaboration of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and the Bengaluru City Police Department,ahead of the Gowri-Ganesha festival,to ensure the maintenance of law and order.
The use of Ganesh idols made of Plaster of Paris has been completely prohibited by the Pollution Control Board due to its environmental impact.
Therefore,this year’s Gowri-Ganesha festival should be celebrated in an eco-friendly manner.The public should install and worship only eco-friendly Ganesh idols,he said.
Ganeshotsava should be celebrated in a special manner by all of us together.
All necessary preparations have been made to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival.
Officials from the city corporation, police department and BESCOM will hold meetings at the police-station level and take all necessary measures for the festival,he said.
Necessary repair works will be undertaken on roads and footpaths wherever required.
Adequate arrangements will be made at the designated immersion facilities/temporary tanks near lakes.If any issue arises, steps will be taken to provide alternative arrangements,he added.
During Ganeshotsava, police personnel will work round the clock and take all necessary measures to ensure that the festival is celebrated peacefully.Let us all come together and celebrate Ganeshotsava in a grand and orderly manner, he said.
Late arrivals will also be allowed for immersion:
Responding to citizens’ concerns that the immersion facilities near lakes would be closed early, he said that this year, devotees arriving late would also be allowed to immerse Ganesh idols at the designated facilities.
Adequate staff will be deployed for this purpose.If requests are received for providing immersion facilities at locations other than those near lakes, necessary arrangements will also be made,he said.
Single-window centres:
For the convenience of the public during Ganeshotsava, single-window centres will be opened at the sub-divisional offices of the five city corporations under the GBA.
These centres will comprise officials from the city corporation, police,BESCOM and Fire and Emergency Services departments.
The addresses of the single-window centres and details of the nodal officers to be deployed there will be published shortly on the GNA website.
Those intending to install Ganesh idols can visit these centres and obtain all the necessary permissions at a single location, he said.
Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said that the police department would provide all necessary cooperation and security arrangements to ensure that Ganeshotsava is celebrated peacefully and in an orderly manner.
The required facilities and arrangements for the public will be provided in coordination with the concerned departments.
Adequate security arrangements will be made to ensure that the public does not face any inconvenience,he said.
It is extremely important that Ganeshotsava processions begin at the scheduled time.As traffic congestion is likely to increase in the city,necessary directions will be issued regarding procession routes and timings to ensure that traffic movement is not disrupted.Organisers and the public must strictly follow these directions,he said.
No untoward incidents will be permitted during the processions. Strict legal action will be taken against those who violate the rules or cause inconvenience to the public, he warned.
No permission for PoP ganesh idols:
The use of Plaster of Paris (PoP) has been banned, and under no circumstances will permission be granted for the installation of Ganesh idols made of PoP. Everyone must strictly comply with this rule,he said.
Curb on alcohol consumption during processions:
Volunteers should immediately inform the police if they notice anyone participating in the Ganeshotsava procession after consuming alcohol.
Strict legal action will be taken against such persons.If volunteers and the police work together,the festival can be conducted smoothly, he said.
Measures to provide basic infrastructure:
Necessary tree branches along the procession routes will be trimmed,and essential infrastructure, including electrical arrangements,will be provided in coordination with the concerned departments.Steps will be taken to identify and resolve existing issues,he said.
Appeal to cooperate with the police department:
No one should engage in any activities that could disturb law and order during Ganeshotsava.The cooperation of organisers and members of the public who celebrate the festival peacefully and cooperate with the police department will be appreciated,he said.
Key suggestions received:
•At present,immersion of Ganesh idols is permitted only at immersion facilities at select lakes.Citizens requested that temporary immersion facilities be established at more lakes to facilitate immersion.
•Citizens requested that Ganesh idols made of Plaster of Paris be completely banned.
•For safety reasons,citizens requested that permission not be granted for installing Ganesh idols on roads.
•Citizens requested that appropriate precautionary measures be taken to prevent any untoward incidents during religious celebrations.
•Citizens requested that consumption of alcohol during Ganesh idol immersion be strictly prohibited.
•Citizens requested that strict measures be taken to ensure compliance with the prescribed timings for the use of loudspeakers at Ganesh idol installation sites.
•Citizens requested BESCOM to take necessary measures during Ganesh idol immersion to prevent electrical accidents.
•Citizens requested that unauthorised cables,which could obstruct Ganesh processions,be removed.
•Citizens requested that after immersion at the facilities near lakes,Ganesh idols should not be left by the roadside and that immediate cleaning measures be undertaken.
•Citizens requested that roads be repaired and streetlights be rectified along Ganesh immersion routes.
•Citizens requested that necessary measures be taken to prevent traffic congestion during Ganesh immersion processions.
•Citizens requested that areas where road works have been completed be thoroughly cleaned so that the processions face no obstruction.
•Citizens requested that people develop an attitude of treating all communities equally and living together in mutual harmony.
Joint Commissioner of Police,Traffic Division,Karthik Reddy; Additional Commissioners R.Latha and Naveen Kumar Raju;officials from the GBA,BESCOM,Karnataka State Pollution Control Board,Police and Fire and Emergency Services departments;organisers of Ganesh installation committees;leaders of various communities; and others were present at the meeting.
