The Hyderabad City Police have started advance preparations for this year’s Ganesh celebrations to ensure the festival is conducted Peacefully, Safely and in an environmentally friendly manner. City Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar, IPS, chaired a coordination meeting with Ganesh idol makers at the TGICCC Mini Conference Hall in Banjara Hills on Thursday.
Commissioner Sajjanar stressed the need for strict safety measures from idol making to transportation, installation, procession and immersion. Referring to last year’s celebrations, during which nearly 23,000 idols were installed and four transport related accidents occurred, he urged manufacturers to follow safety guidelines to prevent such incidents.
As per discussions with the Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsava Samiti, the maximum height of Ganesh idols has been limited to 16 feet. Idol makers were encouraged to promote eco-friendly clay idols and create awareness about using smaller idols for easier immersion.
Police advised workshops to ensure fire safety, secure electrical wiring and maintain clean premises. Special transport routes will be arranged for idols from major manufacturing centres such as Dhoolpet, Jalpally and Mailardevpalli. Manufacturers have also been asked to inform police in advance about transportation schedules and routes to enable smooth traffic management and security arrangements.
The Commissioner directed that cranes and transport vehicles used for moving idols must be safety certified and operated only by trained professionals. He warned that strict legal action would be taken against violations of safety regulations.
The meeting was attended by senior police officials, traffic officers and Ganesh idol manufacturers.
