Bhubaneswar: The city forest division , anticipating monkey-related incidents during Durga Puja , has drawn up a plan to tackle the menace around pandals in coordination with city police and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC).




Officials said monkeys are frequently attracted to puja pandals because of the availability of prasad and food offerings. Several religious sites in and around Bhubaneswar, including Khandagiri caves , have large monkey populations, making nearby pandals particularly vulnerable to their movement during the festive season.




Divisional forest officer (DFO) of the city forest division, Amaresh Pradhan , said the initiative was aimed at ensuring the safety of both devotees and animals during one of the city’s biggest festivals. “Monkeys keep coming to the pandals for food when devotees throng there. Tackling monkey menace during puja is meant to ensure safety of visitors as well as safety of the animals. To maintain order around puja pandals, we need to be prepared to deal with complaints of menace,” Pradhan said.




As part of the preparedness measures, forest officials will work closely with police and civic authorities to promptly respond to complaints from puja committees and visitors. Teams are expected to monitor sensitive locations where monkey movement is common and create awareness among devotees against feeding animals.




The forest department will also seek technical support from experts at Nandankanan Zoological Park to handle emergencies involving monkeys. Officials said trained personnel from the zoo would assist in the safe rescue of animals whenever required and help relocate them to suitable habitats.




Authorities have made public appeals that feeding of monkeys be avoided and caution be maintained while visiting pandals. Officials believe coordinated action by all agencies can help ensure a smooth and safe festive season for devotees while preventing harm to wildlife.