The weather department has predicted a wet Durga Puja in the city as a low-pressure system over north Andaman Sea may develop into a cyclonic storm on October 14.
The weather forecast adds another worry to the list for both organisers and government agencies, particularly cops. unseasonal rains may reduce the number of pandal visitors but may also lead to overcrowding at places and during the dry spells. Everyone should guard against this but, ultimately, the most critical aspect will be the behaviour of visitors to pandals.
Some organizers, like Young Men’s Sporting Association on Keshab Chandra Sen Street, whose half-finished pandals went under knee-deep water after showers last month, have written to the KMC, asking for extra pumps. Swapan Mahapatra, treasurer of Ekdalia Evergreen Club helmed by minister Subrata Mukherjee, said, “We will have two pumps to drain out the water and pandal will be covered with tarpauline sheets.” Some organizers have started laying planks if the ground gets sludgy. “We have kept wooden planks and sand ready to stop the ground from getting wet. We have covered the open space this time,” said Sandipan Bandhopadhyay, one of the chief organizers at Behala Natun Dal. Kidderpore’s 74 Pally is also using planks.
Notun Dal is using wooden planks and sand;
Many organizers are using water-resistant materials. Tarun Dal in Dum Dum Park is one such club. “Most materials being used are water resistant,” said Biswajit Prasad, Tarun Dal secretary. Some, like Thakurpukur SB Park Sarbajanin, are scaling down decorations, as was pointed out by club secretary Sanjay Majumdar.
Ashok Dey of Mudiali Club said they would build a shed for visitors to take shelter if it poured. “We would have liked to cover all sides of the shed, but the Covid situation forced us to keep it open,” said Dey. Abhishek Bhattacharya, secretary of Tala Barowari, said, “If we cover the outside, that space might be counted as part of the main pandal. To allow people to see the idol from afar, we can’t put up a cover,” said Bhattacharya.Police have kept 13 pilot cars and 28 trauma-care ambulances and doctors at 14 medical camps.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/puja-organizers-get-rain-ready/articleshow/86852014.cms
