The Bengal government on Monday urged pilgrims, who wish to visit Gangasagar Mela this year, to get tested for Covid19 before leaving their respective states.

The state government has also decided to set up 13 Covid19 testing centres at various entry points of Sagar Island in addition to five such centres in Calcutta.

The state government’s move comes on a day a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed before Calcutta High Court seeking cancellation of Gangasagar Mela, which will be held between January 8 and 16 at Sagar Island in South 24Parganas, to stem the further spread of Covid19 in Bengal.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice T.B.N. Radhakrishnan will hear the petition filed by advocate Ajoy De on Tuesday. Sources said when the issue would come up for hearing on Tuesday, the state’s advocate general would inform the bench about the steps the government had taken in view of the pandemic.

Moving the petition, De said: “It is the second largest religious mela in India and lakhs of pilgrims from all the parts of country assemble at Sagar Island. In the midst of a pandemic, when there is a bar on gathering, how can government grant permission to the event?”

The lawyer pleaded that the court direct the government to declare Sagar Island as containment zone to bar such a large gathering this year.

In October last year, De had in a similar move got the court to declare Durga Puja pandals as containment zones. The order had helped the government avoid large gatherings that happens during Durga Puja every year.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday met senior officials to chalk out plans to carry out Covid tests on pilgrims before they enter the Island. Mamata urged pilgrims from Bengal to avoid visiting Gangasagar this year as the state was trying to organise the fair with fewer visitors in the backdrop of the pandemic.

At the meeting held in Nabanna, Mamata said a dedicated team of 800 people would be deployed at the island to ensure that everybody followed Covid protocol.

The government said a 600 bed Covid hospital, in addition to isolation centres and safe homes, would be arranged at Gangasagar. In addition, there would be two air ambulances, the official added.