Rourkela: With Durga Puja around the corner, Rourkela is gearing up for festivities with 109 puja committees under Central Puja Committee (CPC) putting the final touches to elaborate pandals and intricately crafted idols of goddess Durga.Organisers across the steel township, civil township and fertiliser areas are working around the clock, with many opting for theme-based pandals to attract devotees.The civic administration has simultaneously intensified preparations for immersion day, with Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) renovating the artificial immersion pond at Balughat. The pond, created to prevent pollution of river water during idol immersion, had reportedly become contaminated over time.As part of restoration work, existing water is being drained out and the pond bed levelled using earthmoving equipment. Officials said the pond would be refilled with clean water before the immersion ceremony.A high-level coordination meeting was recently held at the Civil Centre involving representatives of Durga Puja committees, Integration Forum, CPC, senior police officers and administrative officials.The meeting, chaired by Western Range DIG Brijesh Kumar Rai, was attended by Rourkela SP Nitesh Wadhwani, ADM Deenah Dastageer, officials of Rourkela Steel Plant and other stakeholders.During the meeting, organisers stressed the need for urgent road repairs and proper functioning of streetlights in both civil and steel township areas before the festival begins.The CPC has also stepped up efforts to ensure smooth and disciplined celebrations. Idol immersion has been scheduled for Oct 23. All idols will first assemble at the Sector-13 mela ground before proceeding to the immersion pond in a coordinated procession.Large puja committees have been advised to install CCTV cameras, strengthen fire-safety measures and take steps to prevent incidents of snatching and eve-teasing during the festivities.“We are trying to ensure that Durga Puja is celebrated peacefully across Rourkela. Our focus is on road conditions, traffic and crowd management, fire safety and sale of quality food at temporary stalls. We have also emphasised food inspections during the festival,” said Birendra Narayan Swain, general secretary of CPC, Rourkela.
