Kolkata: Durga Puja pandals in West Bengal will be no-entry zones for visitors, the Calcutta High Court ruled on Monday, much to the relief of those who were fearing a sharp spike in COVID-19 cases.
The High Court, hearing a PIL filed by Ajay Kumar, said revellers won’t be allowed within a five-metre distance for small pandals and 10 metres for big pandals. The court directed organizers to set up barricades at the entrances.
A maximum of 25 organizers or committee members will be allowed inside big pandals, while the number will be limited to 15 for the smaller ones. Organizers will have to put up a list of names outside pandals who will be allowed entry inside for puja-related work.
The high court felt there were not enough policemen in Kolkata and the districts to manage the massive crowds during Puja and asked every Puja committee to submit a blueprint on crowd management.
There are more than 37,000 Puja committees in West Bengal, including 3000 in Kolkata.
West Bengal reported a record 3,983 fresh coronavirus cases on Sunday and 64 deaths.
