Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Sunday asserted that Kumbh Mela will be held in its “divine form” at Haridwar in 2021 despite the practical problems arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the Kumbh Mela review meeting on Tuesday, Rawat asked the health department officials to make the necessary arrangements. On Sunday, Rawat attended a meeting with office-bearers of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad (ABAP) regarding the preparations for the 2021 Kumbh Mela, which will begin on January 14.
In the chief ministers’ meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, the CM also requested the centre “to keep Uttarakhand in mind” during the vaccine roll-out, citing the need to organise a safe Kumbh Mela.
“Kumbh will commence in January 2021. A large number of officers, employees, police and health personnel will be involved in its execution. Hence, it’s important to keep the Haridwar Kumbh in mind while making vaccines available to the state,” CM Rawat told the PM.
Kumbh Mela officer Deepak Rawat said that most of the works will be completed by December 15. “Work on nine new ghats (river banks), eight bridges and roads being built for the Kumbh Mela is nearing completion. Special focus is on cleanliness. Works are also being done consistently on drinking water facilitation, parking facility and removal of encroachments,” he said.
Those looking to perform ‘snan’ (take a dip in the Ganga) at Haridwar Kumbh, to be held in January next year, may have to undergo a mandatory Covid 19 test.
Rawat also informed the PM that a state-level committee had been constituted to chalk out plans of vaccine distribution District-level task forces have been constituted and their metings are being held regularly,” he said.
As per a release by the Chief Minister’s Office, Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik said that well-planned arrangements will be made to ensure the devotees face no problem during the Kumbh Mela.
Around 35 to 50 lakh people are expected to take the holy dip in Ganga daily during the Kumbh Mela 2021.
