West Bengal: Government permission to be given online to Durga puja committees from October 2

The state government of West Bengal will give permission to all the puja committees that have been organising puja for the past 10 years. Durga puja committees will be able to apply for permission online from October 2. On September 28, the state government announced guidelines for the upcoming Durga Puja festival amid the Covid-19 spread in the country.  

The state government of West Bengal will give permission to all the puja committees that have been organising puja for the past 10 years. The chief minister of West Bengal has directed the administration to look into the matter. Durga puja committees will be able to apply for permission online from October 2. According to statistics, there are 28,000 approved puja committees in the state. Out of the 28,000 puja committees, 3,000 are from Kolkata.

On September 28, the state government announced guidelines for the upcoming Durga Puja festival amid the COVID-19 spread in the country. According to the guidelines, the pandal needs to be open from all four sides for proper ventilation. Hand sanitisers will have to be mandatorily placed at entry points of pandals and wearing of face masks will be binding. Physical distancing should be maintained. Cultural programs inside the pandals will not be allowed in this year’s Durga puja celebration.

A few days ago, chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced that Durga Puja committees will get Rs 50,000 each as a grant from the state government. CESC and West Bengal Electricity will waive electricity charges by 50%.

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80,000 hawkers will receive a one-time grant of Rs 2000 ahead of Durga Puja. The state government will keep an additional provision of beds for COVID hospitals and directed stakeholders to keep all helplines active during Durga puja days.