Dhami directs completion of all arrangements for Kumbh by Oct

my uttarakhand news Bureau
Dehradun, 9 Feb: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today chaired a high-level review meeting regarding the preparations for Kumbh Mela to be held in Haridwar, at the Secretariat here today. During the meeting, he issued firm directions to ensure that all the arrangements related to the Kumbh Mela to be held next year in Haridwar are completed by October. Stressing on the importance of strict timelines, the CM said that all the construction and the development works must be completed within the stipulated period in keeping with the scale and sanctity of the Kumbh, He also directed the officials to maintain highest standards of quality in construction works. He also made it clear that no file or work related to the Kumbh should remain pending at the government level and warned that accountability would be fixed for any official responsible for unnecessary delays. Dhami asserted that the state government is fully committed to organising a grand, divine and successful Kumbh Mela.
During the meeting, Dhami directed the Secretary of the Public Works Department (PWD) to appoint technical officers for Kumbh-related works within the next 24 hours. He also ordered a thorough audit of all the bridges in the Kumbh area and instructed that all the ghats be beautified and reconstructed wherever required. He emphasised that, in addition to Har Ki Pauri, adequate bathing facilities must be developed at other ghats as well to effectively manage the large influx of devotees.
Highlighting the importance of cleanliness and public health during the mela, the CM called for the preparation of a comprehensive action plan to maintain hygiene across the entire mela area. He directed that adequate number of toilets and drinking water facilities be ensured at all the major locations related to the Kumbh. In respect of the security arrangements, the CM ordered deployment of sufficient security personnel and the water police and extensive use of modern technology including drones and CCTV cameras to ensure the security. He further sought separate and detailed action plans for the law & order, the parking management and the crowd control to ensure smooth movement and safety during the event.
Dhami also issued instructions that the process of land allotment to various Akharas in the Kumbh area be completed within the prescribed time and that the Mela Officer should personally monitor this exercise. He further underlined the need for continuous coordination with Akharas, Maths, the sages’ community, various social organisations, the committees and the local residents so that their suggestions are duly incorporated into the preparations. To prevent inconvenience to pilgrims, the CM directed the officials to carry out an intensive drive to remove encroachments in the Kumbh region.
He further advised officials to obtain forest-related clearances without delay and also stressed upon the importance of close coordination with other states. Emphasising on implementation over paperwork, the CM said that all the Kumbh-related development works must be clearly visible on the ground. He also directed that the arrangements for housing, the tent townships and the other accommodation facilities be finalised on time, while ensuring the availability of temporary hospitals, ambulances and mobile medical units throughout the mela area to provide timely healthcare services to pilgrims.
Dhami also reminded the officials that the Kumbh Mela is a great symbol of the country’s cultural heritage, faith and the collective devotion of millions of people and that it is the shared responsibility of the administration to ensure its success. He asserted that every devotee visiting the state during the Kumbh should return with a positive and fulfilling experience.
Among those present during the meeting were Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal, MLAs Madan Kaushik, Adesh Chauhan, Renu Bisht, Anupama Rawat and Ravi Bahadur, Vice Chairman of the Uttarakhand Infrastructure Monitoring Council Vishwas Dawar, Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, DGP Deepam Seth, Principal Secretaries RK Sudhanshu and L Fanai, Secretaries Shailesh Bagoli and Nitesh Jha, Kumbh Mela Officer Sonika Singh and other senior officials.