Karnataka government issues guidelines for mosque ahead of re-opening on June 8
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Government on Saturday issued guidelines for the mosques to follow, ahead of the Corona lockdown relaxation that will allow religious places to resume operations from June 8.
In an order issued by the Department of Minority Welfare, Haj, and Waqf, Standard Operating Procedures have been stipulated for mosques to be implemented at its premises when it resumes operation from June 8, Monday. The mosques in Corona containment zones however will not be allowed to resume operations till the zone is denotified by the authorities.
The order has also urged people above 60 years of age, pregnant women and children below 10 years to stay at home. It further asserts that simple public health measures that are to be followed to reduce the risk of COVID-19 be observed by everyone at mosques at all times.
In the guidelines set by the order, it states that congregational prayers and large gatherings will remain prohibited and people at mosques must maintain a minimum distance of two meters at all times with specific marking on the floor to be made to help people.
While the order also directs to allow staggered entry for visitors to avoid crowding, it also calls for mandatory use of face masks for everyone. It is also stressed that cough etiquette should also be followed strictly.
A trained volunteer shall also be deputed to perform thermal screening at the entry points of the mosque who shall guide people with a temperature of more than 99.5 F or with any other COVID-19 symptoms to seek medical consultation.
The availability of hand sanitizers has also been mandatory at all entry points with provision for handwashing with liquid soap and water to be arranged at the mosque. It also adds that proper crowd management shall also be arranged at parking slots outside the premises to maintain physical distancing.
The order further restricts touching of statues, idols, or holy books inside mosque premises. People shall also carry their praying mats which they shall take back with them and common prayer mats shall not be used.
It also directs the mosque authorities to frequently clean all areas with disinfectants while spitting is prohibited to everyone. The order further added that the mosque shall also advise people to install and use the Aarogya Setu App.
The notification also added that the management of the mosque shall immediately inform the authorities if they suspect any person to be infected by the virus, and added that the authorities will further decide the course of infection including deciding on the need for disinfecting the mosque premises.
The management shall also be responsible for arranging separate slots for keeping shoes/footwear for everyone. The Nikah ceremony is also prohibited from taking place in a mosque, while people are also not be allowed to perform sunnah and nawafil prayers in mosques.
The running of Maktab, Madrasa, or religious classes has also been prohibited until further instructions.
Regarding weekly Friday prayers, the order states that staggered timings for Jumma Namaz shall be held as under if necessary: 12:45 to 01:15 pm., 1:30 to 2:00 pm. The Jumma Qutba—e-Awwal, Saani, and Namaaz shall be completed within 15 minutes.
Imams are asked to restrain from longer zikr and dua to help the next jamath to offer namaz, while muazzins have been asked to open mosques only 15 minutes before the Azan and the doors be closed after the completion of Farz prayers.
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Illegally stored gas cylinders seized
Thane (PTI): Authorities have seized illegally stored 1,839 gas cylinders and seven vehicles worth over Rs 67 lakh in the Dombivli MIDC area of Thane district, officials said on Saturday.
A special vigilance team of the Mumbai Rationing Department detected an illegal storage of domestic and commercial LPG cylinders in Phase-2 of Dombivli (East).
Cylinders belonging to multiple gas agencies were found stockpiled in closed vehicles, unauthorised warehouses, and open sheds without mandatory permissions from the Explosives Department, Fire Department, or oil companies, according to an official release.
