Health Department is making a new SOP; "Cachar to follow the same," administration

Durga Puja is knocking at the door, but there is no clarity on how one must celebrate this year. From the size of the idol to the locations where pandals will be allowed to the immersion protocols, there is a cloud of uncertainty over every aspect.

A couple of days back, the Cachar district administration had rolled out a standard operating procedure. However, that came under immense criticism and if sources are to believed, DC Cachar has already shelved that SOP. The officials inside the administration informed that DDMA had submitted the SOP which the DC approved. After immense criticism from all spheres, DDMA had made certain modifications to the SOP issued on October 2, 2020, and submitted for approval before the DC, yesterday evening.

But deputy commissioner, Keerthi Jalli did not approve the same. A senior official in the Cachar district administration informed that DC Cachar is waiting for the Health Department. “Health Department has informed that they are coming with an SOP.  The administration didn’t want to repeatedly change so any modifications as mandated from above (Health Department), we will take it up,” said the officer.

The modified SOP submitted by the DDMA had changed the cap on the size of idols from 5ft to 6ft. Restrictions on two-wheelers were removed, the deadline to shut pandals down by 10 pm was also changed according to sources. The restrictions on loudspeakers and temporary pandals remained.

“There is no point discussing the revised SOP as that did not get approved. Let us see what the Department of Health suggests and if they ask the administration to make modifications to the earlier issued SOP,” added the officer in Cachar DC’s office.

Meanwhile, the district administration is confusing if not misguiding the general public. Today, four hours back, the official pages of the Cachar District Administration shared the guidelines issued by the chief secretary of Assam on September 16 before Viswakarma Puja.

The chief secretary, in his order, mentioned that the deputy commissioners are authorised to make alterations to the SOP issued by the state. In fact, while inaugurating the ICU in Silchar Medical College and Hospital, Health Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the DC will share the SOP in the first week of October. Accordingly, Cachar Administration’s SOP was rolled out on October 3, so the point of sharing the old SOP on Facebook remains unknown. The caption reads, “The following Guidelines have been issued by the Govt of Assam for safe and peaceful celebration of ensuing Durga Puja in the entire state of Assam.”

When will the Health Department issue the SOP and will it be the same for all the districts in the entire state? There are many questions and all eyes now on the next SOP.