The civic body has taken up a slew of measures to keep the city clean during the festive season.

Sanitation agencies of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation have been asked to carry out “additional cleaning work” near various Puja pandals to keep them clean. Puja organisers were also advised to use dustbins and help the sanitation staff in their work to maintain cleanliness.

The civic body has asked the Puja organisers to restrict the use of synthetic substance, colour and use of organic materials in their pandals so that pollution can be checked during immersion of deities. Four artificial ponds have also been developed for immersion of deities. Organisers have also been asked to limit the use of sound boxes in Puja pandals to 60 decibels. “We have put up hoardings near the pandals with themes to restrict the use of polythene and spread the message of Swachha Bharat Mission,’’ said city health officer Ramachadra Rout.

Besides, civic officials have also been conducting awareness programme by public announcement and tableau against public littering and use of plastic. The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has also started a radio jingle, which will continue till the Laxmi Puja on October 24. The corporation officials also asked the Puja organisers to use special chemicals in making their pandals to minimise chances of fire incidents.

The engineering wing of the civic body, on the other hand, has put to job for levelling all potholes near Puja pandals across the city. They are also ensuring that drains surrounding the Puja pandals remain covered with concrete slabs. Streetlights near all Puja pandals have either been repaired or changed, said another official.

City engineer Debasundar Mohapatra said that four ponds were being set up at three sites to ensure that water bodies were not polluted during immersion. Two such ponds are on the banks of Kuakhai river near Pandara and another two are along the banks of Daya river near Tankapani Road bridge and near Lingipur. “The ponds will be ready on time,” said Mohapatra.

Dowry arrest

A 36-year-old man was arrested from Chatarapani village in Patana police station area of Keonjhar district for allegedly torturing his wife for dowry. The accused, Dharanidhar Mohanta, was allegedly torturing his wife Shakuntala Mohanta for dowry for long. He has been remanded in judicial custody.

Man kills wife

Sabita Naik, 35, was allegedly stabbed to death by her drunk husband at Badasasana village in Keonjhar district on Thursday. The accused, Deba Naik, 40, is absconding.