Amingaon: The Kamrup district administration on Saturday held a meeting with the Puja committees of the district to discuss the preparedness of the Durga Puja celebration.
The meeting which was chaired by Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Kamrup Sujit Baglary, discussed in length the COVID-19 preventive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) imposed by the state government to hold Durga Puja this year in a safer way.
He urged the committees to hold puja less lavishly to enjoy it in a healthy way.
The ADC also urged the committees to take prior permission from the administration for organizing the Puja.
The ADC also asked the committees to engage enough volunteers to hold the puja smoothly.
He asked the committees to submit a list of volunteers to the administration with the application for permission.
The ADC also made it clear that it is mandatory for the volunteers to get at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
He however said that the puja committees should give preference in engaging fully vaccinated persons as volunteers.
The ADC also explained that though the administration would set up task forces for the same at the district level as well as at the revenue circle level, the responsibility of the volunteers should be for twenty-four hours.
He also added that the Puja Mandaps must be spacious and open from all sides.
He also said that the entrance and exit of the Puja Mandaps should be clearly bifurcated.
He also said that it is mandatory to sanitize the full area of the puja pandal.
On the other hand, he asked the puja committees to keep masks and sanitizers at the entrance of the pandals.
The ADC also said that it is mandatory for the devotees to take the COVID-19 vaccine to visit the puja pandals. He however said that people below 18 years of age will be exempted from this.
He added that the COVID protocols such as wearing masks, maintaining social distance, etc. are mandatory for all.
He also said that there will be restrictions on holding cultural programs during the Durga Puja celebrations.
He also said that the COVID test of the organizers is made mandatory before and at the end of the puja.
He also urged all to prepare the idol of Devi in a size that is convenient to hold by only a few people for consecration and immersion.
The ADC also called upon the puja committee functionaries to ensure the presence of limited people in both the programs of consecration and immersion.
On the other hand, he also drew everyone's attention to complete the immersion program as far as possible in day time.
On the other hand, the Superintendent of Police, Kamrup also urged all concerned to take action in providing adequate light at the Puja pandal as well as providing fire extinguishers, parking places as far as possible, and ensuring attendance of night volunteers.
He also requested all to inform the police soon after seeing any suspicious bag, goods, etc.
Further he suggested hanging up the list of emergency numbers at each puja pandal.
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