BMC Issues Guidelines for Eco-Friendly Durga Puja in Bhubaneswar; Plastic Banned at Pandals

Bhubaneswar: To make the Durga Puja festivities as eco-friendly as possible, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced strict guidelines for this year’s Durga Puja celebrations.

Through the new regulations, the BMC wants to make Durga Puja plastic-free and chemical-free.

As per the BMC directive, all puja pandals in the capital city will implement eco-friendly practices, with a complete ban on use of plastic materials. Dustbins have to be strategically placed to promote proper waste disposal at pandals.

The use of loud DJ music has been prohibited; instead, only tunes of traditional instruments will accompany the rituals at pandals.

Additionally, alcohol consumption has been banned throughout the puja and immersion period. The use of firecrackers during the ‘Ravana Podi’ ceremony is also been forbidden.

To ensure cleanliness, garbage collection vehicles will operate twice daily, and information centers will be established at each puja location. The BMC has also constructed five temporary water bodies specifically for the immersion of idols.

A substantial number of volunteers will be deployed to maintain safety within the pandals, and fire safety measures, along with drinking water facilities, will be provided at each site.