The Monday order of Calcutta High Court making pandals no-entry zones has come as a big relief to the administration of North 24-Parganas — one of Bengal’s high-incidence Covid districts — that on Sunday had got 1,096 Durga Puja organisers in Basirhat subdivision to pledge compliance to Covid protocol.

Since Covid positive rate in North 24-Parganas district is hovering around 25 per cent, containing the spread of the virus during festive days is a challenge, which officials feel will become easier in the wake of the high court order.

A senior district official said the high court order was a big relief. “The pandal no-entry order will discourage many from hitting the streets.”

Basirhat district police authorities on Sunday had released an 11-point guideline and made Puja organisers swear adherence to it. It included compulsory wearing of masks for every pandal-hopper, sanitisation and entry regulations.

The administration, nevertheless, is concerned about crowding for immersion of deities on Dashami in river Ichhamati. “Usually, people take joyrides on boats to watch the immersion,” Basirhat SP K.P. Barui said. “People from Bangladesh also join from the other side of the river. This year, we directed puja committees to keep immersion rituals to a minimum. Only five persons can accompany the deities for immersion.”