
New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) Delhi Art and Culture Minister Kapil Mishra on Monday chaired meetings to review arrangements for the upcoming Chhath Puja and Durga Puja celebrations, promising to further improve the level of festivities this year.
Mishra said, “Last year, Chhath Puja was organised very successfully under the vision of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. This year too, efforts are being made to make the celebrations even better than last year.”
He said Chhath Puja is an important festival of faith and devotion, and the Government is committed to providing better facilities to devotees while ensuring that the celebrations are organised in a more systematic manner.
Mishra said, “This year, more cultural programmes will be organised during Chhath Puja so that devotees can have a richer cultural experience along with better facilities. Like last year, the Single Clearance Window System will also be implemented this year to facilitate the smooth processing of permissions and arrangements involving various departments.”
Mishra said that the Single Clearance Window process will begin from October 15 so that preparations for Chhath Puja can be completed promptly.
He issued clear directions that no anti-social activity would be tolerated during Chhath Puja and that strict action would be ensured against those found involved in such activities.
After chairing a meeting of the Special Committee constituted for Durga Puja celebrations, Mishra said arrangements for the convenience and safety of devotees should be ensured at pandals and cultural event venues.
He also instructed all District Magistrates to conduct regular monitoring of these arrangements.
Mishra directed that the process of obtaining necessary NOCs and permissions through the Single Window System be completed within the stipulated timeline. He called for making this year’s Durga Puja and cultural celebrations more grand, well-organised and devotee-centric.
Mishra said that adequate arrangements for CCTV cameras and scanners should be made at pandals.
He also said that arrangements should be made for signage to facilitate access to pandals and event venues, health teams, sanitation, mobile toilets, water supply, adequate electricity, traffic management and crowd control at pandals.
The Cabinet Minister said that cleanliness at immersion sites should be maintained and the immersion of idols should be carried out in a dignified manner through proper coordination among all concerned departments.
He directed the Irrigation & Flood Control Department to pay special attention to the preparation of immersion pits and arrangements for water.
–IANS
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