KOLKATA: The Publishers and Booksellers Guild’s executive committee meeting tentatively decided on Tuesday that the International Kolkata Book Fair might end either on February 10 or 13.
Guild officials, however, said the members were divided over the duration and a few more meetings were needed. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has given a green signal to the fair and announced on Monday that it would start from January 31. The Guild will make formal announcements on Friday.
Covid-related safety precautions remained the focus of the EC meeting and members suggested that book stalls can follow the pattern of pandals with three sides open. While the guild might not cut down on the number of stalls, the space allotted may be reduced for better visitors’ movement.
“Bangladesh is the theme country this time but we will have to see how many days their participants would be willing to stay. Covid has changed everything and the biggest challenge would be to negotiate the health posers so that the fair can finally happen,” president of the Guild, Sudhangshu Dey said.
The Guild might also mull the possibility of staggered entry to keep the numbers low. Only those who have received both the vaccines will be allowed inside the fair premises. Children’s vaccination is also a major cause of concern.
