New Delhi: The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) is meeting today to discuss the current COVID-19 situation in the national capital. It is reported that DDMA may also take a decision on lifting the ban for celebrating Chhath Puja in public places in Delhi.
In an order issued by DDMA on September 30, the celebration of Chhath Puja in public places including ghats, reservoirs, temples, river Yamuna in Delhi was prohibited in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A number of Delhi BJP leaders, including MP Manoj Tiwari, had hit out at the Kejriwal government over the decision to ban Chhath Puja and demanded a revised proposal to DDMA to permit performing this puja in public.
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In the backdrop of opposition from BJP and Congress over the issue, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote a letter to Lt. Governor Anil Baijal to convene a meeting of DDMA and allow Chhath Puja at the earliest, terming the status of COVID-19 situation in Delhi as "under control".
After this, Governor Baijal directed the Chief Secretary to convene a meeting of DDMA to discuss the issue. The Lieutenant Governor is the chairman of DDMA while the Chief Minister is the vice-president.
Earlier, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had written a letter to Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, seeking to clarify the situation on Chhath Puja and issue guidelines for the festival in view of the current COVID-19 situation in Delhi.