Chamarajanagar: With the Gauri-Ganesha festival approaching, Hanur police and local authorities have urged Ganeshotsava organisers to follow safety, traffic and environmental rules, warning that organisers would be held directly responsible for violations.
A peace meeting was held at Kammavari Bhavan in Hanur, attended by members of Ganeshotsava committees and youths from villages across the taluk.
No Ganesha idol installation without permission
Hanur Police Inspector Anandamurthy urged organisers to celebrate the festival with devotion and tradition rather than turning it into an occasion for excessive revelry.
He said Ganesha idols should be installed in a manner that does not obstruct traffic or inconvenience the public. Organisers must deploy adequate volunteers and ensure that idol immersion is completed by 6pm.
The use of DJ systems has been prohibited, with organisers advised to use traditional instruments such as dolu and tamate instead.
Village-level organisers must inform the concerned Gram Panchayat PDO before installing idols. The inspector also warned against forcibly collecting donations from the public and appealed to organisers to use clay idols to minimise environmental damage.
Organisers to be accountable for violations
Tehsildar Chaitra said idols must not be installed without obtaining permission from the concerned departments.
She appealed to organisers and residents to cooperate with police and authorities to prevent untoward incidents during the celebrations. She also stressed the importance of using clay idols as part of efforts to protect the environment.
Town Panchayat Chief Officer Rekha said cleanliness must be maintained at all authorised installation sites. The Town Panchayat is also constructing a separate pit for Ganesha idol immersion, which organisers have been asked to use.
She urged committees to use eco-friendly plates instead of plastic for distributing prasada and said sanitation arrangements would be made at authorised sites once their details are provided to the Panchayat.
Safety warning during idol immersion
Fire Station Inspector Ravindra cautioned youths against entering water bodies recklessly during immersion.
He said people who do not know swimming should not enter the water, warning that organisers could be held responsible if an accident occurs due to negligence.
Police and officials appealed to all Ganeshotsava committees to cooperate with authorities and ensure that celebrations are conducted peacefully, safely and in an environmentally responsible manner.
(Report: Mahadeva Swamy G. Gowda)
