Vijayawada: In preparation for the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival, obtaining online permission has been made mandatory for organizers setting up Ganesh pandals across the district. District Collector Dr. G. Srujana emphasized the importance of this requirement during a recent meeting, stressing that online applications should be submitted and reviewed by the relevant authorities, including the police, fire, municipal, and electricity departments.
The District Collector also urged organizers to install eco-friendly Ganesh idols and adhere to stringent safety measures to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival. A committee of at least five members must be formed for each pandal, with their identification details submitted as part of the permission process. Additional requirements include securing permission from landowners for pandals on private land and from local authorities for those on government land.
During the meeting, which was held at the Pingali Venkayya meeting hall in the Collectorate, Dr. Srujana highlighted the importance of a peaceful and safe celebration. Specific guidelines include limiting the use of sound boxes to between 6 AM and 10 PM, inspecting electrical decorations to prevent short circuits, and stationing divers at immersion sites. Special medical camps will be set up by the health department as a precaution.
City Police Commissioner S.V. Rajasekhar Babu noted that last year, 2,328 idols were immersed in the district and that this year, organizers must secure online permissions to ensure proper regulation and safety. Police patrols will be deployed, and firefighting equipment will be mandatory at all pandals. Cranes and other necessary arrangements will be made for the immersion process, particularly at critical sites like Prakasam Barrage.
The meeting was attended by senior officials, including DCPs Gautami Shali, K.Y. Maheshwara Rao, K. Chakravarthy, ACP K. Venkateswara Rao, District Revenue Officer V. Srinivasa Rao, and others from relevant departments.
