The Commissionerate Police on Thursday held a preparatory meeting at Saheed Bhawan to review security measures and ensure the smooth conduct of Ganesh Puja and subsequent immersion processions.
The meeting was chaired by Police Commissioner Dr Suresh Dev Datta Singh and attended by senior police officials, puja committee members, peace committee representatives and political party delegates.
Ganesh Puja will be celebrated on September 14, while immersion processions are scheduled for September 20, 27 and October 4.
Police warned organisers against forced collection of donations, stressing a zero‑tolerance approach to such practices. Committees were asked to strictly follow prescribed rules and regulations.
Commissioner Singh said around 1,200 organisers are awaiting licences to conduct Ganesh Puja. He added that the police are working to expand the single‑window licensing system, already functional in Bhubaneswar, to Kataka with support from the Kataka Municipal Corporation (KMC).
“We will try to introduce more single‑window systems. If that is not possible, police will coordinate with the concerned departments,” Singh said.
