Silchar, the district headquarters of Barak Valley’s Cachar district, is taking steps to celebrate an eco-friendly Durga Puja.

Silchar has more than 100 Pujas and the district has around 1,000.

Deputy commissioner Laya Madduri said on Friday that there should be red and green colour dustbins with instructions for disposal of solid and liquid waste in all pandals. The administration will award the committees on the use of eco-friendly methods. She said workers will bring the garbage to the disposal centre on payment.

Additional deputy commissioner Jessica Rose Lalsim said pandals and gates should be constructed without blocking roads. She said permission should be taken from the electricity department for power connection and the no-objection certificate obtained from fire and emergency services.

Committees have been asked to install CCTV cameras, engage volunteers and set up separate entry and exit gates for men and women, said additional superintendent of police Jagadish Das.

In Upper Assam’s Sivasagar district, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of deputy commissioner S. Lakshmanan on Friday for celebrating a plastic-free Puja.

He requested the Puja committees to create awareness against harmful effects of plastic and install at least two fire extinguishers. He said the Sivasagar Municipal Board would provide dustbins to pandals and instructed the health department to keep a medical team ready for emergencies. If the pandals require civil defence volunteers, they have to apply by September 25.

He also requested committees to limit the idol height to seven foot for ease during immersion. He asked them to bring the idols on time at Thana Ghat for immersion. “The district administration will also engage volunteers and helpers,” he said.

Sivasagar superintendent of police Amitava Sinha asked all committees to install at least four CCTV cameras and ensure proper lighting. He requested them to send the police a list of volunteers so that they can be imparted training on security measures, crowd management and fire safety. “Special arrangements for traffic control and patrolling will be in place. An additional police control room will also be set up,” he said.