Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) not only violated its own guidelines but also the guidelines issued by the state government for Chhath Puja celebrations. On Wednesday, the civic body instead of imposing restrictions and taking action, arranged worship in some lakes from its treasury.
The government had strictly prohibited rituals in water bodies citing the Covid-19 pandemic. But the city police remained a mere spectacle even as a large number of devotees surrounded the reservoir and violated the COVID guidelines.
In the guidelines issued by the state home department on November 3, Chhath Puja celebrations were restricted to home. “People should worship in their homes in a simple way and avoid coming together on the banks of lakes, rivers and seas. Besides this, no pavilion should be built,” the department had said.
NMC Additional Municipal Commissioner Ram Joshi issued a circular on 8 November for the implementation of the government guidelines. As per the information available from the NMC officials, the same day the civic body opened the invited quotations for the execution of works of allowing devotees on the banks of the lakes. The quotation process started from the beginning of November.
Work was completed in just two days on the banks of Sonegaon, Ambazari, Phutla, Police Line Takli, Gorewada etc.
Mayor Dayashankar Tiwari and Joshi confirmed that the NMC carried out the works through the tender process. “The government should have issued the guidelines earlier but the delay created confusion. Like every year, NMC has also started the system. I planned to perform Bhoomi Puja on 6th November as NMC officials confirmed that there are no restrictions from the government,” Tiwari said.
The mayor claimed that he also directed the NMC officials to cross-check after receiving information about the guidelines from a section of the media. “By the time the officials came to know about the November 8 government order, the work had already started,” he said.
Joshi said that the NMC has taken certain actions to avoid any untoward incident in the lakes.
Ignoring the COVID norms like wearing masks and following physical distancing, devotees in large numbers offered prayers at Ambazari, Phulta, Sonegaon and Gorewada lakes.
The traffic police managed the traffic on the roads leading to the lakes, while police personnel were deployed on security arrangements. No devotee was stopped from going near the lakes. NMC officials were also not visible.
According to CP Amitesh Kumar, the police ensured compliance of all the guidelines issued by the government.
Umakant Agnihotri of the North Bhartiya Sabha said there was no reason to impose restrictions for the puja as it is performed only on the banks of water bodies for a few hours. He said, ‘All the guidelines were followed.
The government had strictly prohibited rituals in water bodies citing the Covid-19 pandemic. But the city police remained a mere spectacle even as a large number of devotees surrounded the reservoir and violated the COVID guidelines.
In the guidelines issued by the state home department on November 3, Chhath Puja celebrations were restricted to home. “People should worship in their homes in a simple way and avoid coming together on the banks of lakes, rivers and seas. Besides this, no pavilion should be built,” the department had said.
NMC Additional Municipal Commissioner Ram Joshi issued a circular on 8 November for the implementation of the government guidelines. As per the information available from the NMC officials, the same day the civic body opened the invited quotations for the execution of works of allowing devotees on the banks of the lakes. The quotation process started from the beginning of November.
Work was completed in just two days on the banks of Sonegaon, Ambazari, Phutla, Police Line Takli, Gorewada etc.
Mayor Dayashankar Tiwari and Joshi confirmed that the NMC carried out the works through the tender process. “The government should have issued the guidelines earlier but the delay created confusion. Like every year, NMC has also started the system. I planned to perform Bhoomi Puja on 6th November as NMC officials confirmed that there are no restrictions from the government,” Tiwari said.
The mayor claimed that he also directed the NMC officials to cross-check after receiving information about the guidelines from a section of the media. “By the time the officials came to know about the November 8 government order, the work had already started,” he said.
Joshi said that the NMC has taken certain actions to avoid any untoward incident in the lakes.
Ignoring the COVID norms like wearing masks and following physical distancing, devotees in large numbers offered prayers at Ambazari, Phulta, Sonegaon and Gorewada lakes.
The traffic police managed the traffic on the roads leading to the lakes, while police personnel were deployed on security arrangements. No devotee was stopped from going near the lakes. NMC officials were also not visible.
According to CP Amitesh Kumar, the police ensured compliance of all the guidelines issued by the government.
Umakant Agnihotri of the North Bhartiya Sabha said there was no reason to impose restrictions for the puja as it is performed only on the banks of water bodies for a few hours. He said, ‘All the guidelines were followed.
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