Highlights
- During Durga Puja, a pandal needs to be open from all 4 sides: CM Banerjee
- Hand sanitisers should be placed at entry points of pandals: West Bengal CM
- CM had said that wearing of masks will be mandatory at Durga Puja pandals
Kolkata: Keeping in mind the risks of COVID-19, big-budget Durga Puja committees in Kolkata have decided not to celebrate the festival in a grand manner. “This year, due to COVID-19, there is a lot of uncertainty about how many people will come out for the festival and maintaining social distancing and sanitisation on such a large scale will be very difficult. This is why members of big-budget puja committees have decided against celebrating in a grand manner. The demand for power supply will be less due to this,” West Bengal Power Minister Sovandeb Chatterjee told ANI.
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He further said that there was a surplus of power, and without demand from major puja committees, losses would continue.
Every year before Durga Puja, we hold a meeting to evaluate how much electricity usage will be required. Already due to the COVID-19 situation, we are running at a loss of Rs 2,500 crore. The power department is ready to provide electricity and have a surplus, but since pujas will not be taking place on a large scale, there is no foreseeable solution. Lightning arrangements and decorations will not be as elaborate as the previous years so there won’t be an increase in demand, Sovandeb Chatterjee said.
Earlier in September, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had said that organising cultural programmes at pandals won’t be allowed during the festival.
During Durga Puja, a pandal needs to be open from all four sides. Hand sanitisers should be placed at entry points of pandals, and the wearing of masks to be mandatory. Physical distancing needs to be maintained. Organising cultural programmes at pandals won’t be allowed, CM Mamata Banerjee said.
This year, Durga Puja will be celebrated from October 23 to October 26.
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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.
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