UP GOVERNMENT TO SPEND RS 133 CRORE ON DEEPOTSAV

LUCKNOW: The much-publicised ‘Deepotsav’ in Ayodhya later this week will now be an official function and the Uttar Pradesh government will bear the entire expenses of the event. A decision to this effect has been taken by the state Cabinet.

Earlier, the UP Tourism Department spent funds from its own budget for ‘Deepotsav’ at Ayodhya, but now the state government will directly fund the function through the district administration.

Government spokesperson Srikant Sharma said ‘Deepostav’, which was organised by the Tourism Department in the last two years, would henceforth be a state government event.

Sharma said the state government has sanctioned a sum of Rs 133 crore for this year’s ‘Deepostav’ in which over 5.51 lakh ‘diyas’ will be lit on October 26.

With ‘Deepostav’ now a statesponsored programme, funds spent on the event would be audited as per norms.

The state government has also made elaborate arrangements for ‘Deepostav’ which will be graced by the Chief Minister on October 26.

The Speaker of Parliament of the Republic of Fiji is likely to be the chief guest on the occasion.

RESTRICTIONS ON CRACKERS Meanwhile, the Yogi government has restricted cracker time on Diwali to two hours.

In an order issued, people will be allowed to burst crackers form 8 pm to 10 pm and only green crackers or crackers that are non-polluting are to be allowed.

The order further said that sale of crackers is to be done only by licensed cracker sellers. The purchase of crackers online has been banned.

The government has also banned crackers in silence zones including hospitals.