With Kolkata witnessing a sharp increase in Covid-19 cases ahead of Durga Puja, organizers have decided to cancel all cultural programs that used to be held in all locations on puja days to avoid overcrowding.
This comes at a time when doctors warned Mamata Banerjee’s administration that laxity during bidding days could result in a three- to four-fold increase in Covid-19 cases. They have cited the example of Kerala, where cases skyrocketed after Onam holidays and the government had to invoke section 144 to avoid assemblies.
“This year, we have asked all bidding committees not to organize any kind of cultural programs that are normally organized every night outside of the bidding. This would result in crowds as people would sit in front of the stage to enjoy the programs. The prime minister has asked us to avoid overcrowding at all costs, ”said Saswata Basu, secretary general of the Durgotsab Forum.
This year, more than 37,000 bids would be organized across the state, including more than 2,500 in Kolkata and around 1,700 bids organized by women. The list does not include those organized within housing and house societies. The forum has more than 370 of the city’s largest and most prominent bids under its banner, including those sponsored by some high-level ministers in Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet.
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With the festive season and people flocking to markets to buy puja, the number of new Covid-19 cases reported every day has already skyrocketed alarmingly in the city. While on September 8 Kolkata registered 380 new cases of Covid-19, on October 8 the city registered 765 new cases. Durga puja begins on October 23.
In mid-July, when Kolkata was registering fewer than 400 new cases each day, the forum had drawn up a dos and don’ts for the bidding organizers. Therefore, a new list of dos and don’ts was issued on Friday, amid a drastic increase in Covid cases.
“The situations have changed now and the cases are increasing. We must be more cautious. It has been decided that no one will be allowed to enter the pandal without wearing a mask. The bidding committees would deploy more volunteers to verify this and whether a safe distance is maintained in the queues. Hand sanitizers will be provided. Visitors will not be able to stay inside the pandal for more than a few minutes, ”said Basu.
The West Bengal government has already canceled the post-dive carnival, which had become a huge crowd draw. Puja organizers have been asked to keep the pandals as airy and open as possible. CM Banerjee has already announced Rs 50,000 for each bidding committee.
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