Bhubaneswar: In a bid to curb noise pollution this festive season, the Commissionerate Police has issued directives to all Puja Committees in the Twin City not to use DJ and loud music systems during the carnival.
A decision in this regard was taken during a preparatory meeting held by the Commissionerate Police yesterday on the smooth conduct of Durga Puja and the following Ravana Podi Utsav with all the stakeholders including the members of 172 Puja Pandals in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.
Maintaining law and order, noise pollution by limiting sound output to four sound boxes and mics each, usage of plastic were some of the focused topics discussed during the meeting. Police have asked the puja committees to install CCTV cameras and keep adequate fire extinguishers in their respective pandals to fight any fire mishap.
Commissioner Of Police Sudhanshu Sarangi said, "We have requested puja committees to not use any DJ in their pandals. We have also advised them to limit the sound to four sound boxes and four mics and also asked the pandal members to refrain from competing with each other over music and sound."
To maintain law and order and address the most pressing issue of fire safety, police have decided to rope in local youths to aid them. As per the plan, such youths would be trained by the police in fire safety skills and law & order before being appointed as Special Police Officers (SPO) during the Puja.
The Puja committees have been urged by the police to remain alert in view of fire incidences especially at the time of Ravana Podi. Two to three members of each Puja Committee would be trained by the police in fire safety to address this issue.