The Bhajan Sandhya conducted by the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) on the occasion of Mahashivaratri here on Thursday in the premises of the newly-renovated Ramalingeswar Park has sparked controversy.
The district administration and the BeMC forgot their own SoP and deviated from Covid-19 guidelines while conducting the fest as none of the visitors and devotees had worn face mask. Neither had they maintained social distancing in the event performed by Padmashree Anup Jolta.
While on the one hand, the district administration and the State Government have cautioned the people to refrain from mass gathering without putting face mask and strictly follow social distancing norms in view spike in Covid-19 cases, on the other, the BeMC authorities organised a “Bhajan Sandhya” in the Ramalingeswar Amusement complex and reportedly commercialised the event in the name of “Ramalingeswar Mahostsav” imposing an entry fee Rs 50 per visitor/devotee.
Even the vehicles of a number of devotees who visited different Shiva temples with their family were denied permission to enter Goutam Hall Road forcing them to divert their vehicles through some other roads during the night causing much inconvenience.
Except the vehicles of politicians and elected representatives, others were denied access to cross Goutam Hall road. The BeMC could have allowed senior citizens free access, said a local here on Thursday.
There were thousands of people assembled to witness the fest. Hence there was absolutely no restrictions on the number of visitors. Eye witnesses claimed that, this was an open deviation of the SoP issued by the district administration.
Brahmapur MP Chandra Sekhar Sahu graced the event as chief guest, while Brahmapur MLA Bikram Kumar Panda, former Deputy Speaker of OLA and senior most leader of Ganjam district Rama Chandra Panda, former MLA Dr Ramesh Chandra Chyu Pattnaik, Southern Range DIG Satyabrat Bhoi, Ganjam Collector Vijaya Amruta Kulange, Brahmapur SP Pinak Mishra, Brahmapur Sub-Collector Kirthivasan, BeMC Commissioner Dr Siddheswar Baliram Bonder, BJD leader Subash Maharana, District vice-president of BJD Sanjeet Panigrahi attended as guests of honour.