Convinced that the state could be witnessing a rise in several cases of Covid-19 in the state
due to the forthcoming celebrations, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on
Thursday, said that the administration is prepared to take on the issue.
Ms. Banerjee spoke at a meeting online hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Governors attended the meeting, and Chief Ministers of States and Union Territories were
present to discuss the Covid-19 situation within the country.
“The West Bengal Chief Minister discussed the possibility of a rise in cases across the state
due to forthcoming celebrations and also the state’s plans to deal with the issue,” an official
release stated.
West Bengal is hosting the Gangasagar Mela at Sagar Island in the South 24 Parganas
district of the state.
Thousands of people are expected to soak in the confluence between the Ganga and the
Bay of Bengal on January 14 to celebrate Makar Sankranti.
The Calcutta High Court division bench consisting of Chief Justices granted the annual fair
permission to run from January 8 through 16 and ordered for the entirety of Sagar Island
to be declared a designated area.
The court also established the two-member committee, which includes the former Justice
Mr. Samapti Chatterjee and the secretary-general of the West Bengal Legal Services
Authority, to oversee compliance with Covid standards during the fair.
The court ordered that all pilgrims be fully immunized and be harmful to Covid-19 on an
RT-PCR test within 72 hours before getting to the location.
At the end of the meeting, Chief Ministers thanked Prime Minister Modi for his commitment
to the various waves of Covid-19.
“They specifically expressed gratitude to the prime minister for his assistance and guidance
and the service provided by the Central Government, which has been enormously helpful in
the development of the health infrastructure of the states.
Chief ministers spoke about readiness to combat the rising number of instances, using
steps like the expansion of beds, oxygen availability ,” the statement issued through the
Press Information Bureau said.
In his address to the gathering, the Prime Minister said that India’s fight with the largest
pandemic in 100 years had entered the third year of its existence.
“Hard-working is our only way to win, and winning is our only choice. The 130 crore
Indians of India will be victorious over Corona through your efforts,” according to the press
release declaring.
