SHILLONG, Oct 16: Durga Puja preparations are underway in Shillong, but a group of idol-makers faces uncertainty over its future workspace following the sale of the property where artisans have been crafting idols for the annual festival.
The artisans are racing to complete their work before the celebrations, but the expected vacation of the premises has left them searching for an alternative place to continue their traditional craft. The development has raised concerns about their ability to sustain their work without a dedicated workspace.
Meanwhile, the East Khasi Hills district administration has allowed Durga Puja pandals occupying portions of Public Works Department (PWD) roads to remain for this year’s celebrations, but has ruled out similar permissions in subsequent years.
Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal said the decision followed objections from pressure groups over public inconvenience and traffic disruption caused by roadside pandals, particularly in RR Colony and the Lachumiere-Laitumkhra areas.
He said the administration had held several rounds of consultations through sector magistrates with local Dorbar Shnongs, police station officers-in-charge and other stakeholders. However, the objections came at an advanced stage of preparations, leaving puja committees with little time to relocate their structures.
After consulting the respective Dorbar Shnongs, the administration allowed construction to proceed in accordance with the No Objection Certificate issued by the PWD. Baranwal made it clear that such permission would not be extended in future years if pandals obstructed public roads and inconvenienced commuters.
Of the 69 Durga Puja pandals in East Khasi Hills district, only one has traditionally occupied part of a PWD road, referring primarily to the RR Colony pandal, he said.
The administration is coordinating with the Superintendent of Police’s office to limit traffic diversions during the festival. Adequate traffic personnel will be deployed to regulate vehicle movement and prevent severe congestion on the main days of Durga Puja.
The administration has urged puja committees and local stakeholders to plan future celebrations in a way that allows religious festivities to continue without causing unnecessary inconvenience to the public.
