No civic service for pandals on PWD roads: Silchar Municipal Corporation

Silchar: The municipal corporation of Silchar has ruled out granting no objection certificates or extending civic services to Durga puja pandals erected on PWD roads this year, citing traffic and public safety concerns.
SMC commissioner Srishti Singh, on Thursday said the administration was determined to make the festivities “an example of responsible celebration” in Silchar. “A standing order has been given to PWD to clear all city roads,” Singh said.

She added that puja committees would soon be called for a meeting to sort out practical issues. Responding to concerns about traffic snarls, Singh underlined that keeping roads obstruction-free was non-negotiable.

Apart from restrictions on location, SMC has also issued civic guidelines for pandals: strict avoidance of single-use plastics, separate dustbins for solid and liquid waste, and streamlined parking facilities to prevent chaos. In a bid to promote hygiene, the Corporation, along with the Shrishti Waste Management Team, will inspect pandals during the festive week.

To incentivise cleanliness, SMC will introduce “Clean Pandal Awards” with cash prizes for the three best-maintained pandals. “We want committees to value hygiene as much as decoration. The idea is to set a benchmark for the rest of Assam,” Singh said.

Addressing the media for the first time after assuming charge, Singh also briefed on the AMRUT project. She said Silchar has been divided into seven zones, with 11,000 households in Tarapur, Subhashnagar and Link Road already benefiting in the first phase. “An annual fee of Rs 360 per household has been fixed. Taxation and related matters will be discussed with civic bodies and residents on Monday,” she added.

The corporation hopes the twin focus on responsible celebrations and civic discipline will help Silchar’s Durga Puja strike a balance between tradition and urban order.