Seven days to go for Durga puja, preparations on

A REPORTER

SHILLONG, Oct 15: With only a few days left for the Durga puja, the preparations are going on here in full swing. This year a total of 166 Durga Puja Committee is being set up across the state.  This was informed today by the Central Puja Committee (CPC), an umbrella body comprising all puja committees across Meghalaya.

The CPC informed that out of the 166 Durga Puja Committees, 87 pujas will be held in Khasi Hills Districts, 11 in Ri-Bhoi District, nine in Jaintia Hills and 54 in Garo Hills district.   “This year also we will be focusing on ‘Swachh Abhiyan’ (cleaning drive) in and around all puja pandals and especially at the immersion Ghat along the Wah Umkhrah River in the city,” president of CPC ba Bhattacharjee told newsmen. He said that the all the Durga Puja pandals of greater Shillong will join the CPCs ‘Swachh Abhiyan’ by organizing cleaning drive in and around their respective Durga Puja pandals.

“From now onwards, we will undertake cleaning drive at immersion ghat at Polo in regular interval.  We will conduct cleanliness drive on the first Sunday of every month and we will also undertake beautification work at immersion ghats by planting trees,” he said.

Bhattacharjee said that the District Administration will be deploying round the clock security in all the Durga Puja pandals of greater Shillong and in particular in East Khasi Hills.

The District Administration has requested the Public Work Department (PWD) to repair all damaged roads before the Durga Puja celebrations, he said.

He said that CPC has also requested the MeECL to make all non-functioning street lights in the city functiol.

Bhattacharjee also said the annual ‘get-together of harmony’ of CPC, involving representatives of all faiths and religions, besides public leaders, would be held on October 19 on the premises of Laban mghar.