Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee meets Durga Puja Committees to chalk plan on festival amid COVID

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday conducted a special meeting with Durga Puja Committees over how annual extravaganza will be conducted this year amid COVID-19 pandemic. As per sources, Mamata Banerjee held meeting along with senior members of administration including representatives from municipal corporations and  police. Earlier West Bengal government had anunced that this year grand Durga Puja festival would be celebrated as a low-key affair amid COVID-19 pandemic. 

Read: Bengal Has Made Provision To Meet Power Demand During Durga Puja: Minister

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West Bengal prepares for Durga Puja

With around a month left for Durga Puja, preparations have kicked off in state. As per guidelines issued by government, height of deity has been kept restricted to eight to ten feet, at least 5 feet less than usual height. Along with this, labourers are being made to undergo COVID-19 tests before starting pandal work. Most puja committees have also slashed ir budgets.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Power Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay revealed that government had made adequate provisions to meet power demand during festive days in state. "We are making a provision of five per cent excess demand for power this Durga Puja than previous year. We have provisioned for 8,400MW demand in state. However, power demand is likely to be less due to pandemic," he said.

West Bengal's COVID-19 death toll surged past 4,500-mark on Wednesday after 61 more patients succumbed to virus, even as coronavirus tally went up to 2,34,673 with 3,189 fresh cases, health department said in a bulletin. 

Read: Focus On Safety, Preparations Afoot For Low-key Durga Puja

Read: West Bengal's COVID-19 Toll Tops 4,500-mark With 61 More Deaths