Berhampur: With the celebrations of Biswakarma Puja and Ganesh Puja, the festive season in Ganjam district has begun which will also see grand celebrations of the Durga Puja, Dipawali, Kali Puja, Gajalaxmi Puja and Kumara Purnima in the coming days. Starting from villages and urban areas, people from all walks of life are in a festive mood.
In order to make this festive season a safe and secure one and people celebrate with all fanfare, the Police has started preparations. The Police administration has made comprehensive plans to control disruptive activities by the anti-socials, gambling activities, and controlling traffic movement in the district.
With the instructions of Berhampur SP Dr Saravana Vivek M and Ganjam SP Jagmohan Meena, the Police Department in Ganjam district is actively pursuing implementing these plans to make this festive season safer for all. To decongest roads and avoid inconvenience to motorists, the police has issued directions that no puja pandals be it Ganesh Puja, Viswakarma Puja, Kali Puja or Durga Puja, can be set up on roads in the urban areas of the district including Berhampur town.
While about fifty Durga Pandals are likely to be put up in Berhampur this year, all the Puja committees will be informed about this beforehand. Special initiative will also be taken for traffic management in Berhampur during Durga Puja. All the Pandals will have to put up CCTVs and additional forces will be deployed wherever required. Steps are being taken to apprehend and control rouge elements like snatchers and looters in crowded places by initiating blocking and checking at important junctions of the city.
Keeping in view the increased gambling activities and associated disturbances during Ganjam’s most celebrated Kumara Purnima festival, the police have started raiding those places. Last year, the Berhampur and Ganjam Police had arrested 1181 persons and filed 206 cases between Dussehra and Kumar Purnima. They also seized an amount of Rs 46 lakhs from those gambling dens. This year also, there will not be any tolerance to gambling activities and strict surveillance has also been started. The Police have taken initiatives also to check illegal manufacture, sale and use of fire crackers.