While inviting the ascetics based in Haridwar to the Kumbh Mela slated in Prayagraj, the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Minister Dharmpal Singh said that a continuous supply of 12,000 cusecs of water from Tehri Dam would help the holy Ganga maintain its normal flow during the occasion of auspicious snans when millions of devotees would take holy dip in the river. “The first major snan would be held on the occasion of Makar Sankranti and several ones would follow. We have made sure that the flow of Ganga is maintained till March 4, the day Kumbh Mela would end,” the UP Minister said. He had come to invite Jagadguru Swami Rajrajeshwarashram, in particular, to Kumbh Mela being held in Prayagraj.
He further said that the devotees would not just have ample volume of water in the Ganga for taking holy dips during the entire period of Kumbh Mela but the farmers too would continue to get enough water through the Ganga canal during Kumbh Mela which would continue for nearly three months. “After the Prime Minister Narendra Modi upgraded the status of Kumbh Mela the Government’s focus has remained trained on revamping the infrastructural facilities. While the Ardhkumbh Mela has been given the status of Kumbh the main Kumbh Mela is now Mahakumbh Mela under the new proposal,” Singh said.
“I have come here to assure all that the devotees would not face shortage of water in Ganga during the Shahi and general snans (bathing days) like what they faced during the previous occasions. Just knee-deep water used to be left in the river for the devotees who come from across the world. This time, things would be different as the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the departments to ensure that the minimum level of waist-deep water is maintained all through the snans to be held during the Kumbh Mela,” he said.
Earlier, the UP Irrigation Minister came to Haridwar along with some senior Tehri Dam officials for a review meeting before the first snan of Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj is held.