RANCHI: With
Durga Puja less than a month away, scattered bamboos and piles of decorative paraphernalia will put people's nerves on trial as lanes and roads bear the annual festive brunt.
However, the district administration is taking adequate measures to prevent such a situation.
SDO Aditya Kumar Anand
on Wednesday directed puja committees in the city not to erect temporary pandals that will obstruct vehicular traffic and free movement of pedestrians.
"We received complaints from local businessmen last year about pandals obstructing traffic movement. We could not take action against the committees as pandals were already constructed when the complaints were filed," said Kumar.
SDO said asking puja committees to bring down the pandals after it had been erected would hurt religious sentiments. "We will keep a check from the time
pandal
construction begins to ensure timely intervene. We do not want traffic flow to be impinged," he added.
After the SDO's directive,
committee
members of
Shraddhanand
road halted pandal construction. Committee members, however, are unhappy with the administration's decision. "We have been constructing pandals every year without any problems. Now, we have been forced to change our plans. We will not go against the administration's decision, but they should also consider the traditions we seek to uphold," said
Ramesh Gupta, a member of the committee.
However, the businessmen are happy that the administration has taken a stand. J K Prasad, a local shopkeeper said, "When pandals are constructed, customers are unable to enter our shops. We are forced to shut shop for five days during Durga Puja. We have incurred huge losses over the years. Thankfully, we will not face any more problems."
SDO Kumar has also urged residents to keep administrative officials informed if they notice pandals being constructed on main roads.
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