With the festive season barely a month away, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has started formulating plans for a safer Puja this year. In the recent past there have been several incidents where potholes became the cause of deaths and tragedy in the city. KMC is going to be on guard this Puja, especially where potholes remain uncovered.

“We have decided today in a meeting that special security guards will be posted near uncovered potholes. The assigned person will not have the authority to move from the site until the repair work of that particular pothole is carried out by us,” said Farzana Choudhuri, Member, Mayor-in-Council, drainage department, KMC.

These workers will not be given any holiday during the Pujas or on Sundays till October this year. “They will be given overtime for this,” added Chaudhuri.

In spite of the noble cause undertaken by the KMC, the police have not yet been contacted or informed about this plan. The MMIC vaguely said that discussion will be done with the police in the coming week.

But what if the workers do not stay in their designated places, or if waterlogging makes it impossible for them to stand near potholes? “We have not yet formulated any plans of punishment or penalty if the workers disobey the orders . But I have full faith in them, and know they will never fail us.”