Dharamshala: A new mutated strain of coronavirus reported to be highly contagious has forced the district administration to impose fresh restrictions for holding of New Year festivities.
Deputy Commissioner Kangra Rakesh Kumar Prajapati said, “ in view of the possibility of spreading of Covid-19 and in view of the orders passed by the National Green Tribunal, social gatherings on account of New Year celebrations have been limited to a maximum of 50 persons to control the spread of Covid-19. In addition, according to the Disaster Management Act, environmentally friendly firecrackers will only be sold in the district, and time for firecrackers has been fixed from 11.55 am to 12.30 pm on New Year’s Eve.”
He said that prior permission of the concerned SDM would be mandatory for New Year’s Eve events.
He said that the use of sound dissemination equipment would not be allowed in open spaces in such events, whereas the former sound broadcasting equipment could be run in public premises like an auditorium, conference room, community hall, banquet hall only after prior permission.
He said, “ bursting of firecrackers in markets, government offices, silence zones and heritage buildings is completely prohibited. All sub-divisional magistrates and executive magistrates of district Kangra are authorized to take necessary action against such a person who violates these instructions.”
He said that All Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats will ensure the scientific disposal of waste generated by fireworks.
Vimukt Ranjan, SP of the district said that there will be a restricted one-way traffic movement on 31st December in Dharamsala and Nobody shall be allowed to move outside after 10 PM to implement curfew rules, which is already encamped in the district.
Arvind Sharma is an award winning bi-lingual journalist with more than 20 years of experience.
He has worked with Divya Himachal, Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhasker, Vir Partap, Ajit and PTI.
In 2010, he was conferred the Himachal Kesri journalism award. He reports on the Tibetan Government in Exile, politics, sports, tourism and other topics. He lives in Dharamshala.
