Pooja would return two years later to the park, its site since 1967. Due to the rules of social distancing, people will not be allowed to enter the park. The organizers said that they have got permission for the puja from KMC and other agencies.
MD Ali Park, where the pandal will be set up, was a place of worship from 1967 to 2019, when the underground reservoir wall collapsed
MD Ali Park Durga Puja general secretary Surendra Kumar Sharma said, “We are grateful to Transport Minister Firhad Hakim, MLA Naina Bandyopadhyay and MLA Vivek Gupta for allowing us to bring the puja back to its previous site. Since maintaining physical distancing is mandatory, we had to think of a concept that would avoid overcrowding near the pandals. We are sure that people will appreciate our efforts as always.
In March 2019, the wall of the British-era reservoir under the park collapsed, raising the risk of a collapse. The park was then closed to visitors and the puja was conducted inside the fire station. A team of experts from Jadavpur University and engineers from KMC felt that it would be risky to worship inside the park after the wall collapsed.
The puja was originally held at the fire station site until 1967, after which it was shifted to the Mohammad Ali Park.
“We are happy that the tradition did not break after the accident and the puja took place at the adjoining fire station,” Sharma said.
Due to the pandemic, restrictions and social-distancing norms, the pandal will be set up this year with its façade towards Central Avenue.
“No one will be allowed to step inside the park. People will have to move ahead by offering Namaz from the road itself. We have taken this decision keeping in mind the pandemic and related regulations,” Sharma said.
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