BMC Holds Coordination Meeting For Durga Puja

Bhubaneswar: An inter-departmental coordination meeting of officials held here in the corporation hall of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has come out to provide converged services to the citizens for a hassle-free PUJA season.

The meeting was chaired by Mayor Sulochana Das in presence of Commissioner Vijaya Amruta Kulange and Addl. Commissioner III Suryawanshi Mayur Vikash.

Roads, drains, sanitation activities, infrastructures like public toilets and food safety were discussed in the meeting.

Mayor Sulochana Das urged the representatives of different departments to support the emotion of the city dwellers and visitors by providing basic services through their department activities.

As the Puja is going to be observed after a gap of two years, this time lot of expectations in the minds of people to derive pleasure in the season that will replace their loss and grieving experience due to the pandemic, told Das.

Hence all concerned should regard such feeling in the minds of citizens and proactively do their jobs, she added.

She assured that corporators of each area will be alert to support public service activities during puja days.

As puja is religious and community members are associated on the occasion this needs a coordinated effort to provide basic facilities for the citizens, she said.

“We have ward-wise officials to facilitate urgent repair of roads to manage the seasonal observation, provision of lights and sanitation facilities,” she added.

BMC Commissioner Kulange stressed on prevention of accidents due to electricity or fire, sanitation facility and provision of about 4 temporary ponds for immersion of idols.  The ponds will be approachable and garbage lifting from the pond will also be ensured.

Assuring the safety of citizens, Commissioner told that festive food stalls will be checked by a dedicated team to prevent infections.

“A standard operating procedure will be released soon to observe the Puja. In dengue prevalent pockets we will do fogging, source reduction and surveillance.  Authority will also appeal to communities to adopt COVID-19 appropriate behaviour. Regular cleaning of puja pandal area will be checked by the concerned sanitary inspectors and advisory committee members about hygiene maintenance of their premises,” Kulange said.

BMC will write letter to line departments regarding their responsibilities for the occasion, he added.