Cops inspect Durga Puja pandals on Wednesday
Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate multiple Durga Pujas from Eden Gardens on Mahalaya evening. Senior officers at Lalbazar began inspections to finalise these venues on Wednesday.
“The inspections are happening early due to multiple reasons.
The new puja at Park Street’s Allen Park — which has several senior BJP functionaries at its helm — is most likely also on the list, cops said. The list is expected to be finalised in a couple of days, said officers. We also wanted to give time to organisers so they can make changes if suggested by us,” said an officer. Speaking to TOI , Sarkar said his concern was to ensure that entry and exit were smooth and that there was no violation of laws set by the HC.
The tentative list also includes Sreebhumi, Chetla Agrani and Tridhara Sammilani. We are finalising the pandals that will be inaugurated virtually by PM Modi. We will also get busy with the Mahalaya event. Before that, we have the Salt Lake match between Brazil and India. “We did suggest a few minor changes to the organisers but it was restricted to proper circulation.
Among those shortlisted so far are some that enjoyed political patronage during the Trinamool regime, like Suruchi Sangha, which was previously patronised by former cabinet minister Aroop Biswas and has inducted BJP North Dum Dum MLA Sourav Sikar along with nine senior BJP functionaries. Earlier, we had objected to certain circulations that unnecessarily crowded a pocket without increasing the area. But there was no major suggestion on our part on Wednesday,” said an officer.