Organisers installing Vinayaka idols in Erode district must obtain no-objection certificates from landowners or the government departments concerned, and the idols cannot be installed near other places of worship, hospitals, or educational institutions, the district Collector S. Kandasamy said here recently.
Reviewing preparations for Vinayaka Chaturthi with officials of various departments, Mr. Kandasamy directed the organisers to ensure that temporary pandals complied with fire safety norms, and adequate lighting, first-aid facilities and generators were provided.
Idols must be made of clean clay, and use of Plaster of Paris and prohibited colours is not permitted. Inflammable materials should not be used for pandals. The sites should be located within 10 feet of the dais, and adequate space should be provided for devotees to enter and leave safely.
Organisers must obtain police permission for using loudspeakers and the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited’s (TNPDCL) approval for temporary electricity connections. Loudspeaker use will be restricted to two hours each in the morning and evening, with only box-type speakers permitted.
For immersion, designated water bodies will be identified in consultation with the police, Pollution Control Department and local bodies. Idols must be immersed within five days of installation, with processions beginning before noon and proceeding only along police-approved routes. Only four-wheelers such as mini-trucks and tractors will be permitted to transport the idols. Bullock carts and three-wheelers will not be allowed. Firecrackers will be prohibited at installation and immersion sites and along procession routes.
