In view of the upcoming Durga Puja, Laxmi Puja and Kali Puja, the science, technology and environment department has issued certain guidelines and the department’s minister Animesh Debbarma has urged the public to comply with the same. Addressing a press conference yesterday at the secretariat the minister said, during the festival days i.e. Durga Puja (September 29 to October 2), Laxmi Puja (October 6) and Kali Puja (October 20) no microphone, musical instrument could be played on mike from midnight (12.00) to 06.00 am. Playing mike and burning crackers is also prohibited within the 100 meter range of any hospital, educational institution and court. Hoarding, sale and use of fire crackers causing sound louder than 90 decibel have also been prohibited.
The science, technology and environment minister also added that only fire crackers mentioned in the guideline issued by the department on 30-10-2018 could be burnt from 8 pm to 10 pm. For playing mike during Puja and post Puja, approval from the concerned SDPO is mandatory.
Synthetic colour containing heavy metal component (mercury, cadmium, arsenic, led and chromium etc.) or chemical substance like plaster of Paris cannot be used for colouring idols. Instead bio-degradable organic colour should be used. The height of the idols cannot be higher than 24 feet, and the height of the pandal cannot be higher than 40 feet.
Further, the guidelines include idols have to be immersed only in the spots specified by the Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council, and district administration. In order to play mike on the idol carriages within permissible decibel prior permission has to be taken from the authority.
Additionally, all types of public address system/ sound systems have to be used with permissible limit of sound. Single-use plastic or thermocol use is prohibited in any ritual of puja like Prasad distribution, pandal decoration etc.
The minister has urged all to use only environment-friendly materials and sought cooperation of all in this. Principal secretary of the department Chaitanya Murthy, chairman of State Pollution Control Board Dr. K. Shashi Kumar, DM-West Dr. Vishal Kumar and other officials were also present in the press meet.
