Shillong, Oct 11: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Tuesday requested the PWD (Roads) not to allow erection of puja pandals over PWD roads.

In a memorandum to the department’s chief engineer, KSU Laban Circle president Reuben Najiar said, “The Union humbly urge the concerned authority not to allow or to discontinue to grant approval and permission for erection of pandals and other decors over P.W.D road for the Puja celebration as it causes discomfort to the commuters and the vehicular flow.”

He said there has been erection of pandals (shelter) over P.W.D roads during the festive seasons of Pujas in and around Laban area and in particular over Shiv Mandir, Laban and the area adjacent to Laban Police Station.

Stating that the Union respects each and every faith and religion and have no qualms or demurral over them celebrating their festive season or having their religious practices, Najiar however said the erection of pandals in P.W.D roads cause major disruption to the flow of traffic in these particular areas.

He said that the roads in Laban area are already narrow and slender and further erection of pandals and other decors on the roads leads to congestion in vehicular flow of traffic and disrupt the public from carrying out their daily activities.

“Over the years with permission granted for erection of such temporary structures during the festive season had caused severe difficulties to the commuters and the general public of Laban over the congestion,” the president said while adding that the appropriate authorities should also keep in mind that the Laban areas accommodate to different communities with their different beliefs and practices and for the festive season of one particular faith, the others should not bear the brunt or the consequences of it.