Only 100 people to be allowed at festive events & gatherings in Kanpur; read on for more details:

The Kanpur Police released a new set of guidelines on Monday to ensure COVID-19 protocols in the city, during the festive season. As per reports, no socio-cultural celebration can be conducted in Kanpur without prior permission. Here also, the number of attendees has been capped at 100 as opposed to the count of 50 earlier. Any organiser that invites over 100 guests will be prosecuted, informed police officials.

Restrictions on festive processions in Kanpur

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The Kanpur Police department held a meeting at Police Lines to establish and release pandemic protocols, to eliminate the chances of the anticipated 'third wave' of coronavirus during festive celebrations. The review was attended by the Police Commissioner, Additional CP Law and Order, along with other officials to finalised the preventive guidelines.

People have been urged to steer clear from crowds and subscribe to COVID-19 norms as they indulge in the merry celebrations. As such, strict restrictions have been imposed on all festive processions and yatras. Traditions will not fade even if people do not participate in big gatherings or crowds, the Police Commissioner reportedly stated.

Meanwhile, the administration has also issued a toll-free helpline number for the benefit of the city dwellers. People can now dial 18001805159 to draw attention to any civic issue, related to lights, drinking water, street lamps and so on. All public complaints will be resolved via this phone line.

New help desks will be set up to grant event permissions

Prior permission has been made mandatory to organise any social, cultural and religious programme or event in Kanpur. For this, the administration has decided to set up new help desks. Officials from all departments, namely the PWD, municipality, KESCo and police will be deployed here to ease the process for the public. This one-stop provision will ensure that organisers do not have to run from one department to the other to seek approval.

Besides, the Municipal Commissioner stated that operational hours for all shops, vegetable and fruit vendors along with street hawkers will be announced soon. This decision will prevent overcrowding in marketplaces during the festive hours.

- With inputs from Amar Ujala