Kolkata: Bringing great news for Durga Puja organisers across the state a month ahead of the grand festival, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stated on Friday that the donation to the Puja committees has been enhanced to Rs 25,000 from Rs 10,000. Apart from this, Puja committees where all the members are women will get Rs 5,000 more from the police department.
The Chief Minister also stated that CESC and West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) will provide 25 percent concession to the Puja committees across the state.
On Friday afternoon, the coordination meeting for Durga Puja was held at the Netaji Indoor Stadium, where the Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, Director General of West Bengal Police and ministers from several departments along with representatives from several religions and representatives from Puja committees were present.
During the meeting, Banerjee stated that she is enhancing the donation amount to Rs 25,000 from Rs 10,000. She also told the police administration that the Pujas organised exclusively by women will get Rs 5,000 more, which will be given by the police.
Apart from this, a member of a Kolkata Puja committee informed the Chief Minister that every year they had to pay a high amount of money to CESC for electrical connections. After hearing this, Banerjee announced that from this year, all the Puja committees will be given 25 percent concession by CESC and WBSEDCL across the state.
At present, around 28 thousand big Puja committees organise Durga Pujas apart from several small Pujas arranged locally across the state.
"Our government is poor. Despite all odds the amount has been enhanced to Rs 25,000. CESC and WBSEDCL have been asked to give a concession of 25 percent as well," said Banerjee.
The Chief Minister also proposed to the Puja committees to abolish the VIP pass culture, saying: "It is my request not to make any VIP passes. It is not right when a huge number of people are waiting in a line and a few people with a card get in from another entrance and visit the Puja pandal without any hazard."
While talking about the facts in this regard, she turned to state Fire minister
Sujit Bose and told him that she does not want to see VIP passes for Sreebhumi. She also instructed Mayor Firhad Hakim and state PWD minister Aroop Biswas that no VIP passes should be made available in their areas.
During her speech, Banerjee stated that when a huge gathering takes place, no one should shout or spread any message which can create panic among the people. The Chief Minister also announced that this year, the Puja Carnival
will be held on October 11 at Red Road.