BMC will be making artificial ponds in order to avoid people gathering on the beaches
@Vikas_Nag_1987
Mumbai: In wake of Covid-19 pandemic, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) administration had earlier denied permission for Chhath puja this year, but with the efforts of the Mumbai Congress the Maharashtra Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray and BMC Commissioner, Iqbal Singh Chahal had given permission to perform Chhath puja using artificial lakes and with strict covid related guideline.
Due to the continuous follow-up by the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC), the state government and the BMC has given permission for Chhat puja in Mumbai, this was disclosed by MRCC President, Bhai Jagtap while speaking to newspersons here on Monday.
The BMC in its earlier issued circular had denied the permission to celebrate Chhath puja citing Covid-19 pandemic. The notice also prohibited Chhath puja to be performed on artificial lakes built by the BMC.
The notice said that the artificial lake should be arranged by the citizens themselves and they should inform the BMC about it. However, the North Indian community was displeased with this.
The demand of the North Indian community has been accepted, with certain guidelines to be followed by the devotees. As in the past, the Chhatpuja festival was celebrated using artificial lakes, this time too Chhatpuja festival will be celebrated at the artificial ponds and lakes.
“I thank Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal for allowing Chhatpuja, as its one of the important puja performed by our brothers and sisters from Uttar Bharat. The artificial lakes are made by the corporation.There will be Chhatpuja as before, but if more artificial lakes are needed, more artificial lakes will be arranged by the Mumbai Municipal Corporation in consultation with the local administration, at the expense of the BMC itself,” said Bhai Jagtap.
Also, on the background of Covid-19, all the rules related to precautionary steps for Covid has to be abided like thermal scanning of the devotees, if needed RTPCR tests also will be conducted of the citizens coming for Chhatpuja at all these artificial lakes.
On behalf of Mumbai Congress, we are starting free vaccination centres at 10 places on the occasion of Chhatpuja, added Jagtap.
A delegation of the Mumbai Congress leaders like Bhai Jagtap accompanied by Mumbai Congress Working President Charan Singh Sapra, Mumbai Municipal Corporation Opposition Leader Ravi Raja, Vice President Shivji Singh, Youth Leader Suraj Singh Thakur, Mumbai Congress Dr. Satyendra Singh, Co-Treasurer Atul Barve, General Secretary Sandeep Shukla and others met Additional Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide also in this regard.
