Kolkata: Senior police officers in Bengal have stepped in to solve a major problem affecting the state’s biggest festival, Durga Puja. They have ordered all police stations to ensure that trucks carrying clay to Kumartuli are not stopped or harassed.This weekend, the state’s top police officer, under directions from director general of police Siddhinath Gupta, held a special video meeting. The aim was to make sure that trucks carrying clay can travel safely across the state without delay.“This meeting was held because the artisans in Kumartuli are facing a serious crisis. We don’t want these delays anymore,” an officer said.With only 100 days left before Durga Puja, Kumartuli has been facing a severe shortage of clay for the past two and a half months. Because of this, idol-making work has almost stopped.Officials had already been asked to help the artisans. However, clay artists alleged that some lower-level police personnel on highways were still stopping their trucks and demanding favours. Most complaints came from areas such as Diamond Harbour and Falta in South 24 Parganas district.Babu Pal, secretary of the Kumartuli Mrit Silpi Samiti, expressed frustration. He said the artists had given the licence plate numbers of their clay trucks to local police stations in advance. Even then, the vehicles were stopped, causing delays.Officers said the clay used for the idols comes from specific riverbeds, and any delay in transporting it directly affects the livelihood of hundreds of artisans.
