Puja committees restrict entry of visitors following HC order

Kolkata: The Durga Puja committees across the state have restricted the entry of visitors within the 10 meter of the

pandals as per the order given by the Calcutta High Court on Monday.

According to Saswata Basu, general secretary of Forum for Durgotsav, though the review petition is scheduled to be heard on Wednesday, all the puja committees have been asked to follow the direction of the High Court till new judgment is given.

"We have asked the Puja committees to follow the directives by the High Court strictly and not to allow visitors within the 10 meter radius of the pandal. "No entry" signage has already been put by the Puja committees," said Basu.

Following the norms, several puja committees from Monday night restricted the entry of the visitors and made alternative arrangements. Sujit Bose, the Minister of State (MoS) in charge of Fire and Emergency Services who is the key person of Sreebhumi Durga Puja on Monday said, "High Court has given a direction. We are trying our best to implement it and also maintaining the other Covid protocols."

The Calcutta High Court on Monday ordered that the area covered by the pandals and the additional area around

the pandals extending 5m from the smaller pandals and 10m from the bigger pandals will have to be barricaded as a no-entry zone.

The only exception would be for the named personnel, including the priest, who will be identified by the puja organisers in advance and whose names would be displayed for checks to be made at any point of

time.

At the smaller pandals 15 persons will be named in the list who may have access to the no-entry zone at all times.