Civic bodies plan extra cover for safe festivals

Jamshedpur, Oct. 20: East Singhbhum district administration is not leaving no stone unturned to ensure safe and smooth two festivals of Diwali and Chhath.

The administration to- day passed directives to the civic bodies at a meeting at Dhalbhum sub-divisional office.

Sub-divisional officer of Dhalbhum Ganesh Kumar said the lifting of sand from river banks have been banned with immediate effect before the Chhath festival. Various corporate houses have also been asked to clean and develop the Chhath ghats.

“The meeting focussed on ensuring security and gearing up for the festivals. Important decisions have been taken and directive were passed to keep the festivals free from any trouble. Police have been asked to keep a strict vigil during the two festivals,” said Kumar.

He added that there are 43 river banks across the steel city where large number of people gather to celebrate Chhath. The officials of Jugsalai Municipality, Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee and Mango Notified Area Committee, who were present at the mee- ting, were directed to en- sure that all the ghats are ready and clean before the festival.

District administration officials said corporate houses have been called to help in the arrangements. Jamshedpur Utilities and Services Company (Jusco) would ensure proper arrangements in 15 ghats. Whereas Tata Motors will be responsible for five ghats, ISWP will look after two, Lafarge and Timken four each and railway would ensure arrangements at one ghat.

Officials of Jharkhand State Electricity Board were directed to ensure power and proper lighting arrangements at all the ghats of Jamshedpur.

Meanwhile, the district administration has decided to provide licence for temporary cracker shops from Wednesday. The last date for submitting application was today.

The administration has also identified 16 places in the steel city where crackers shops would be allowed to put their temporary kiosks.

All the police stations in the steel city have been asked to ensure that none of the cracker shops come up in the residential areas.

The administration maintains that the area for selling crackers have been identified keeping in mind the threat associated with firecrackers. All the areas are open and located far from residential areas.

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