Lucknow, Oct 1(UNI) A day after the Union Home Ministry issued fresh unlock 5.0 guidelines, Uttar Pradesh Government on Thursday released its new guidelines under which schools and educational institutions along with coaching institutes can be opened after October 15 in a phased manner.

The school management can reopen them in consultation with the district administration.

The new guidelines will also allow community and roadside Durga Puja pandals to be set up, but with riders. Permission is likely to be given to organise Durga Puja in which more than 100 people will be able to attend. Durga idols can be installed but no procession would be allowed during immersion of the idols.

Additional chief secretary , home Awanish Awasthi said here that Durga Puja and Ramlila has been permitted in the state . He said that the districts will give permission as per the guidelines and norms to organise Durga Puja and Ramlila.

Earlier confusion had arised when there was a report that the state government would not allow Durga puja due to the pandemic.

The guidelines issued by the state chief secretary R K Tiwari here, said social, educational, sports, entertainment, cultural, religious and politics programmes will be allowed outside containment zones with a maximum participation of 100 people.

But functions in these categories in closed venues will be allowed to operate with a 50 per cent capacity or a maximum of 200 people keeping in mind social distancing measures, hand sanitizers, thermal scanning, etc from October 15. Functions in open spaces will have to follow the guidelines as per the area where they take place.

A detailed SOP will be issued at the administration level to keep a check on gatherings.

The guidelines says children will be allowed to join classes on a voluntary basis and written consent of the parents will have to be obtained. According to SOP issued by the Ministry of Youth Welfare and Sports, swimming pools will also be allowed from October 15.

Cinema halls, theatres, multiplexes outside containment zones will be allowed to operate with a maximum capacity of 50% of its scheduled audience seating capacity outside the containment zone.

Public libraries will also be allowed to open.

The UP guidelines is similar to the Central guidelines and the state government has adopted all the recommendations of the Union Home ministry.

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