Bihar has ordered tighter festival security, round-the-clock police patrolling and special cleanliness drives at railway stations, bus stands and Chhath ghats ahead of Diwali, Kali Puja and Chhath, with Quick Response Teams (QRTs) being prepared to handle emergencies and misleading information.
Chief minister Samrat Choudhary issued the directions during a video-conference review meeting held at the Sankalp auditorium at Lok Sevak Awas. He asked district administrations to complete all necessary preparations on time and ensure that people returning to Bihar from other states and abroad feel safe during the festive period.
Districts have been directed to deploy adequate police personnel and maintain effective patrolling around railway stations and bus stands. Officials have also been told to take prompt action in the event of any untoward incident and to ensure that security and facilities at Chhath ghats meet prescribed standards.
Acting director general of police Preeta Verma said 16,000 trainee police personnel, 1,500 other personnel, home guards and Rapid Action Force personnel had been additionally deployed for the festive period. The deployment is intended to strengthen the police presence as large numbers of people travel through transport hubs and gather at public locations.
The chief minister instructed district magistrates to personally monitor cleanliness at railway stations, bus stands, public places and Chhath ghats. Local volunteers and swimmers are to be involved in arrangements, including at village ghats. Officials were also directed to give priority to electrical safety and ensure that exposed wires are not used anywhere.
The instructions extend beyond crowd management. Choudhary ordered the formation of QRTs at every level to respond to misleading and fake news. Officials have been told to verify information, take necessary action if it is found to be correct, and quickly refute it if it is false. The administration has been directed to issue a response within a maximum of four hours so that misleading information does not create a negative atmosphere and verified information reaches the public.
The chief minister also asked public representatives and officials to visit Dalit and Mahadalit tolas and celebrate the festivals with residents. District magistrates were told to meet public representatives regularly and address their concerns.
The review meeting also covered development and industrial activity. Choudhary said focused monitoring and execution of ongoing development works would be taken up after November 16, and that he would begin visiting districts to inspect development projects after November 25.
To promote industrial growth, district magistrates and superintendents of police were asked to hold monthly meetings with industrialists, resolve grievances, speed up land acquisition and advance the One District, One Product initiative. The immediate festive preparations, however, remain centred on security, sanitation, electrical safety and emergency response at the public locations expected to see increased activity.
