The Lakhimpur district administration on Wednesday announced a set of guidelines for the Durga Puja celebrations, adhering to the COVID-19 protocols.
The announcement was made during a press meet held at the conference hall of the office of the Deputy Commissioner at North Lakhimpur.
Addressing the media the Lakhimpur Deputy Commissioner Jeevan B elaborated the preparedness by the district administration for the Durga Puja celebrations in the district.
He said that this time in the district there would be only puja and no festivities with only 33 puja mandaps.
The DC informed that there would be 25 puja mandaps in North Lakhimpur while 4 each in Bihpuria and Narayanpur.
The members of the puja committees had been trained by the district administration for the observation of COVID-19 protocol inside mandaps during the Puja.
Only 20 devotees and 10 puja committee members would be allowed to be inside a puja mandap at a time and entry without wearing face masks would be strictly prohibited.
The district administration would also conduct random Covid tests in puja mandaps during the celebrations, said DC.
The Deputy Commissioner further announced that a number of prohibitory measures had been imposed in the district during the Durga Puja under Section 144 of CrPC.
Carrying of firearms, lethal weapon by individuals and organizations without prior permission, pillion riding except for a woman with a child on lap, police personnel and media person, use of crackers and music after 10 pm are banned during the puja celebrations in the district.
On the immersion day, the district administration would allow only five volunteers to participate within the stipulated time period.
The DC also announced that the COVID-19 situation in the district had improved with only 78 positive current cases.
He also informed that sufficient numbers of medicine, oxygen and beds were available in the district with five extra ambulances for five Covid care centres in the district.
The Lakhimpur Police also urged the public to cooperate with the district authority during the puja by wearing face masks and keeping social distances.
People without face masks would be fined Rs 1000 during the puja, the district administration said.