GUWAHATI: In preparation for the upcoming Chhath puja celebrations in the city, a meeting was held at the conference hall of the office of Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup (M), with the officers of lying departments and Chhath Puja Committees, presided by District Development Commissioner, ACS, Atul Sharma.
The Chhath Puja or the Surya Shasti is dedicated to the ‘Sun God’ where the devotees observe rigorous fasting and perform rituals over a span of four days and throng the banks of rivers and ponds to offer prayers to the rising and setting Sun on the last two days of the festival.
In view of the same, the district administration has identified the following places as places of worship: The bank of river Brahmaputra from Uzan Bazar Ghat to Bharalamukh, Chunsali Ghat Noonmati, Pandu Ghat, Maligaon Railway Stadium, Meen Bhawan Birubari, Basistha Ashram, Lalmati, Jyotikuchi, Narengi, Patharquary, Azara near Airport, Chandrapur, Khanapara firm gate, and Hatigaon.
For the smooth conduct of Chhath puja festival in Guwahati, the Commissioner of Police/ DCPs shall brief and train volunteers, install a police control room at Fancy Bazar ghat, deploy civil dressed personnel and lady police, and ensure all necessary arrangements at the places of worship in tandem with the puja committees.
Safety of devotees at ghat shall be ensured by the River Police who will take necessary steps to render possible help during the time of worshipping and bathing in the river Brahmaputra.
Inland Water Transport (IWT) Department has been asked to erect Red Flag over river Brahmaputra, where the water level is too deep in consultation with the Chhath puja committees. They shall also take necessary steps to prohibit plying of private engines and country boats in the river during the puja, keep rescue boats ready, and take necessary action for shifting stranded vessels from the ghats for convenience of the devotees.
The Superintendent of Guwahati Medical College and Hospital is to provide ambulances, the Joint Director of Health Services is to keep a medical team ready, the Director of Fire Services is to make arrangements for fire tenders, the Commissioner of Guwahati Municipal Corporation is to supply drinking water and take necessary steps to clear garbage at the places of worship. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) is to prepare the traffic plan and to restrict vehicle movement at MG Road during both days of the puja. Assam Power Distribution Corporation Limited is to provide uninterrupted power supply and the Commandant of Civil Defence is to provide volunteers at the places of worship.
During the meeting, all puja committees were asked to obtain permission from their concerned police stations, arrange sufficient volunteers and submit the list of volunteers to the police, make arrangements to clear garbage, inform local police station regarding cultural function, and arrange for lighting facilities including 24 hours standby generators.