New Delhi: Rules related to religious event on Delhi Development Authority (DDA) land in the country's capital Delhi have now changed. Before holding Durga Puja, Ramlila or other religious events this year on DDA land, the organizers will now have to deposit some money as guarantee money. As per the new rules, the organiser will now have to furnish a bank guarantee of Rs 5 lakh to hold the event.

It is being told that these bank guarantees will be for such a situation, when the organizers will cook food at the place of worship or the fair site and spread dirt through it. Dda has informed that it will be mandatory to give a bank guarantee of Rs 5 lakh this time and if rules are violated in any manner, the amount can be used as a fine. However, in case of no violation of rules, rs 5 lakh will also be refunded. According to the DDA, in a circular issued on December 13, 2019, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) had ordered the installation of ETPs at all such religious events. Following the same order, the National Green Tribunal (NGT)  had on February 4, 2021, ordered that a fine ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 50 lakh be collected from the organisers in case of violation of rules.

Dda has clarified that land is provided free of cost for puja or religious events. For this, a security deposit of Rs 24 per sqm has been made for 15 days of booking and Rs 60 per sqm for booking more than 30 days, which is fully refunded after the event. Dda's policy will remain the same this year as well.

At the same time, those who organise Durga Puja and Ramlila in Delhi have expressed their displeasure over this new decree of the DDA. People do not like this new order of dda. Talking to the media, the organizers said that soon the committees related to the event will meet on this issue. The organisers said it would be very difficult for puja committees and Ramlila committees to arrange a hefty sum of Rs 5 lakh.