The Ganesh festival preparations in Bengaluru are being accompanied by tighter electricity safety measures this year. Bangalore Electricity Supply Company has issued guidelines for providing temporary power connections to public pandals, with officials instructed to complete safety checks before allowing electricity supply.
According to the new instructions, organisers must obtain a No Objection Certificate from the relevant local authorities before BESCOM officials inspect the pandal site. The electricity connection will be considered only after the required approvals and safety arrangements are in place.
One of the important requirements concerns electrical protection inside the pandal. Organisers have been told to ensure that wiring follows safety standards, while an Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker must be installed before the temporary connection is provided. The measure is intended to reduce the risk of electrical accidents during the festival.
BESCOM has also asked its field staff to pay particular attention to the routes that will be used for Ganesh idol processions. Electrical wires along these roads are expected to be inspected in advance. Any loose, damaged or hanging wires must be identified and repaired before processions take place.
The department has also placed restrictions on the use of its electrical infrastructure for festival decorations. Banners and posters must not be tied to electricity poles or BESCOM infrastructure under any circumstances. The instruction is aimed at preventing potential hazards and ensuring that electrical equipment remains accessible for inspection and maintenance.
Officials have further been instructed to clearly mark danger zones around electrical equipment. This is expected to help organisers, volunteers and members of the public maintain a safe distance from potentially hazardous electrical installations during crowded festival activities.
Temporary metering arrangements have also been addressed in the guidelines. Where a prepaid meter is not available, BESCOM can install a regular meter and record the electricity consumption through its software system. This will allow the temporary supply used during the celebrations to be monitored properly.
The safety instructions come as Bengaluru prepares for large scale Ganesh festival activities across different parts of the city. Public pandals generally require temporary electricity arrangements for lighting and other basic requirements, making proper wiring and protection particularly important in crowded locations.
Meanwhile, preparations are also underway for the immersion of Gauri and Ganesh idols. The Greater Bengaluru Authority has arranged temporary immersion facilities at around 42 lake premises across the city. These facilities are intended to provide residents with designated locations for idol immersion during the festival.
The civic body has also arranged 659 mobile tanks as part of the immersion preparations. The additional facilities are expected to make it easier for residents in different neighbourhoods to access temporary immersion points without depending entirely on natural water bodies.
Yediyur Lake is among the prominent locations where preparations are underway. The temporary immersion facility at the lake has undergone cleaning, and the process of filling it with water is progressing as part of the arrangements for the festival.
The civic authorities are also focusing on how immersion activities are carried out. At designated locations, idol immersion is planned to be handled through volunteers appointed by the civic administration. The arrangement is intended to improve safety and support better management of crowds during the immersion process.
The temporary immersion facilities are also part of broader efforts to protect the environment and manage festival activities in an organised manner. By directing immersion towards designated facilities, authorities can keep a closer watch on the process while reducing pressure on regular water bodies.
For Ganesh festival organisers, the BESCOM guidelines mean that electricity arrangements cannot be treated as a last minute task. Required permissions, safe wiring, leakage protection and inspection of the surrounding electrical infrastructure will need to be addressed before temporary power is supplied.
With festival pandals and idol processions expected to draw crowds across Bengaluru, authorities are placing greater emphasis on basic safety arrangements. BESCOM’s instructions, along with the civic body’s immersion preparations, are aimed at ensuring that celebrations can take place with fewer risks and better public management.
