District Collector A. Mallikarjuna has asked officials to ensure availability of eco-friendly Ganesh idols or clay Ganesh idols in all areas. He has also instructed them to run a massive awareness campaign on the use of only clay idols. The Collector held a review meeting on Saturday to review the arrangements being made for ‘Ganesh Puja’, especially during the festival, arrangements for pandals, places of immersion and police surveillance. Police Commissioner Ch. Srikanth and GVMC commissioner G. Lakshmisha attended the meeting.
Shri Mallikarjuna said that there are eight designated places for immersion of Ganesh idols and people should do the immersion at those places. He said that the organizing committees would have to take necessary permission for the arrangement of the pandals.
Police Commissioner Ch. Srikkanth has asked the officials to make arrangements for swimmers at the immersion sites. Keeping in view the possible traffic issues and the pandal organizing committees should ensure that they have a mechanic in case the vehicle breaks down during the immersion process. He said that pamphlets should be distributed in apartments and educational institutions.
DCP Sumit Garuda Sunil, DMHO K Vijayalakshmi and others were present.
‘Take selfies, win prizes’
Meanwhile, GVMC commissioner G. Lakshmisha held a video conference with all the Secretariat Secretaries, GVMC officers and employees here on Saturday.
Shri Lakshmisha asked the secretaries to ensure that only clay Ganesh idols are used in all the houses in their wards. The secretary can take selfies with the inmates with clay idols and send them to GVMC. “We will select and award good people,” he said.
He asked the officials to ensure that roads are not dug anywhere for the arrangement of the pandals. He also asked the officials to organize the sale of clay Ganesh idols to benefit the Self Help Groups at the eco-market at Beach Road.