5.5 crore Kanwadias expected to visit Haridwar, CM directs officials to complete preparations for Yatra
Saturday, 13 JULY 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
With about five crore Kanwadias expected to visit Haridwar during the Kanwad Mela starting later this month, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed officials to complete all preparations on time. Chairing a meeting in the Mela control room in Haridwar on Friday, Dhami told officials to ensure that there is no mismanagement during the period and that the locals do not face unnecessary problems in commuting. Stating that the Kanwad Mela is an annual affair, he told officials to accord priority to permanent works, adding that long term development work plans should be brought into the work culture. Dhami also directed that arrangements should be made to shower flowers from a helicopter to welcome the Kanwadias.
“The police and administration should be ready to handle challenges which arise during this period. Along with police deployment on the entire Kanwad Yatra route, temporary police posts should also be constructed at various locations along with ensuring additional police force. Drones and CCTV cameras should also be used for monitoring in places with heavy crowding. The Kanwadias should also be informed about bypass and alternate routes with signboards. Coordination should be maintained with the neighbouring States for the successful conduct of the Kanwad Yatra,” the CM said.
Dhami directed officials to ensure availability of toilets, bathrooms, clean drinking water, travellers’ shed, lights and medical facilities. Special focus should be laid on making the Yatra easy along with sanitation, for which cleaning should be carried out throughout the day. He directed the officials to conduct regular checks in hotels and roadside eateries on the Yatra route and in the Haridwar region to ensure quality of food. It should also be ensured that there is no encroachment in the Mela area, he stressed. He also directed officials to prepare a better route plan for traffic management to ensure the locals do not face inconvenience in commuting and that the traffic on roads is not affected.
Haridwar district magistrate Dhiraaj Garbyal informed that about 5.5 crore Kanwadias are expected to visit Haridwar during the Kanwad Mela from July 22 to August 2. A control room has been set up for the period. The administration has created 14 super zones, 36 zones and 130 sectors for effective management of the Kanwad Yatra. Further, five nodal officers have been named for the pilgrimage, the DM added.
