Sir,
With the Covid-19 pandemic playing havoc in Odisha, it is highly deplorable that the State Government and district administrations are allowing Durga Puja celebrations in the name of a low-key affair. In Bhubaneswar, the corona positivity rate is 10%. With these statistics as of now, Bhubaneswar, which had witnessed double-digit corona cases in the months of April, May and June, has touched three-digit mark now thanks to the apathy of the Government and also the callous attitude of the public.
One cannot understand the psyche of people’s representatives, who should have fought tooth and nail to cancel Durga Puja festivities this year in public interest, are playing with the lives of citizens. Do we really need Durga Puja this year when the pandemic is scaring the whole globe with thousands of deaths and no cure or vaccine in near future? The Government guidelines ask people to stay home and not to venture out unnecessarily; and at the same time, the same Government has given permission for Durga Puja attracting people to come out of their homes. What’s the logic? Should not the administration think about the simple logic that with Puja, people will come out in large numbers and there is every chance of aggravating the corona scenario instead of breaking the chain of transmission?
The Government should have skipped Durga Puja this year and the allocated amount should have been used to increase the numbers of Covid beds and ICU beds and streamlining oxygen supply as the health system in the State is collapsing day by day. Imagine the situation if the number of Covid cases increase by two or three fold due to Durga Puja! Not only this, there will be a big burden on the already-depleted healthcare professionals, who are stressed out with long working hours for the past six months and may not be able to cope up any more.
On behalf of all concerned citizens, I request the Government not to allow Durga Puja this year keeping in mind the public safety. K Ravi, E-237, GGP Colony, Bhubaneswar, Mob: 9437616497
