Suvendu announces Rs 1 lakh grant for Durga Puja in West Bengal
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh to the Durga Puja committees, which is about Rs 10,000 less than the previous year. This, besides waiving electricity charges by 100 per cent.
Appealing to the big-budget puja committees to forego their claim to Government grant, Adhikari said, “those Puja committees which are capable of funding their Pujas independently are called upon to waive their claim to the grants.”
The Government will organise a Puja-centric programme at the iconic Eden Gardens on Mahalaya day, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi was likely to attend, Adhikari said, adding the programme would include drone and firework displays.
The Chief Minister, who announced a two-day State-funded programme before the Pujas, said: “From now on it will be ensured that no Puja committee has to go to the High Court to seek permission to organise Pujas.” The Chief Minister also announced that prizes would be given to the best Pujas based on decoration, theme, idol, environmental friendliness, etc.
Apparently criticising his predecessor Mamata Banerjee for inaugurating the Durga Pujas before the commencement of the Devi Paksha, he said, “the Government will not allow inauguration of Pujas before Devi Paksha or Matri Paksha sets in ... Unlike on previous occasions ... When the Pujas were inaugurated on Pitri Paksha before the Mahalayas which is not auspicious for our Dharma.”
The Chief Minister also put a ban on the organisation of Pujas blocking the national highways and main thoroughfares. “No national highway will be blocked, and there will be a ban on organising Pujas on 13 main thoroughfares of Kolkata including Red Road, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Khidderpore Road, DL Khan Road... Besides, liquor sale will also be banned on Ashtami Day when Pushpanjali is offered ... The idols should also not be designed defying the traditional aesthetics of the Sanatan dharma, he said, adding that no DJ would be played during the immersion processions.
The Government servants who would be involved in the Durga Puja management during the festivities would be given two days’ paid leave after the Pujas, he said.
