Bhubaneswar: Even as Odisha government has declared the COVID-19 a State disaster, it seems the fight against the novel Coronavirus in State's largest religious congregation place - Shri Jagannath Temple, one of the 4-Dhams in India- looks very listless.
When the State has already invoked the Indian Epidemic Diseases Act 1897 and Section 10 of the Disaster Management Act, how could it let the fight against lethal COVID-19 in the hands of sevayats alone?.
Moreover, when the need of the hour is sanitisation, are the measures put in Sri Jagannath temple on Sunday like crowd control near Arunastambha, Garudastambha and darshan of the trinity at Bhitara Katha enough?
Besides, gatherings have been prohibited inside Jagamohan and at Arunastambha. And advisories are also issued to avoid partaking the Mahaprasad at Ananda Bazaar.
Do the Puri District Collector and Sri Jagannath Temple Administration term these measures a 'zero spread plan' for COVID-19?
In fact, only a preliminary glance at the measures show, the administration has seemingly declared COVID-19 a disaster on paper only. The real determination is woefully lacking. How?
Consider this. The Puri temple administration's dos and don'ts very clearly mentioned that devotees will be allowed to have a darshan of the trinity in a queue, this when the WHO guidelines crystal clearly mentioned to maintain a safe distance of 2 feet to prevent transmission of the novel coronavirus.
Now, take a comparison with the COVID-19 fight measures undertaken by world famous Tirupati Tirumala Devastahanam (TTD).
In order to ensure zero transmission of novel cornavirus, the TTD has only yesterday decided to undertake a thermal screening at Alipiri, Srivari mettu, Vaikuntham Queue Complex (VQC), Kalyankatta Centres (KKC) - where people go for head tonsuring and Annaprasadam hall. The reason: Heavy congregation of pilgrims takes place at these places.
The moot point is when the State government has declared it a disaster under the Disaster Management Act - 2005, and has allocated a whopping Rs 200 crore fund to fight the viral menace, why no thermal screening provision has been done at the famous 12th century shrine?
It needs mentioning here that Sri Ram Navami Fest is celebrated in a grand way at the Sri Jagannath temple. This year the holy fest will be celebrated on April 2. The Puri temple sees a huge rush of devotees on the day every year.
How can the temple management prevent transmission without thermal screening?
Look at Tirupati. Even after implementing thermal screening, the Tirupati Temple Administration has even cancelled the annual celestial wedding ceremony of Sri Sita Rama Kalyanam which will be observed at Vontimitta as a part of the annual brahmotsavams of Sri Kodanda Ramaswamy temple on April 7.
Some sound behavioural practices prescribed at Puri Temple are:
1) The temple priests, while offering services to the trinity, have to wear the masks.
2)Priests were asked to go for thorough hand wash most often.
3)Sevayats prohibited to apply camphor on the eyes of devotees.
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However, Odisha need to take a leaf from the TTD here. As per the press statement of the TTD Executive Officer, Health Officer has been directed to deploy more number of sanitation workers at all the vital points. Each area will be allotted to a senior officer to monitor who will observe the sanitation and cleaning process round the clock and report the same to Additional EO at Tirumala.