DIG Ardh Kumbh mela G S Martolia has appealed hotel owners and small traders on Sunday to remove the encroachments from roads and by-lanes in Mela zone by the end of December. The anti-encroachment drive shall be carried out if they fail to do so from January 1, said the Mela DIG. He was accompanied by Mela Adhikari SA Murugesan during a ‘Samvad’ (dialogue) programme held in Press Club of Haridwar. The dialogue was attended by the educationists, social leaders, traders, representatives of Ganga Sabha, Bharat Scouts and Guides and other people from various sections of the society.
Discussing about the implementation plan for Ardh Kumbh Mela, DIG Martolia said, “Separate parking lots for taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers, busses and other four wheelers shall be made and we would ensure that it is enforced from today without delay so that by the time we reach main Baisakhi snan which witnesses a phenomenal rush, people are already in tune to following the protocol.” He appealed to the local transporters for streamlining with the mela officials.
Martolia also announced of a three day acquaintance training amongst the police personnel and the local people, so that it would be easier to identify any miscreant who could be in the garb of a sadhu or a cop’s uniform. This acquaintance workshop would include the scouts and guides volunteers and security men from other agencies deployed by different organizations in the district.
In a major development, the Ardh Kumbh mela task force would paste posters and pamphlets on all Dharamshalas (inns), hotels, front offices giving information about the route map to Har Ki Pauri from that area. In a suggestion made by representative from Haridwar hotel association, Ashutosh Sharma said, “The route map should not only guide to main sanctum sanctorum Har Ki Pauri but also to other ghats in the vicinity like Ram ghat, Vishnu ghat, Birla ghat with directions clearly marked.” He also demanded Ardh Kumbh mela police to issue passes to all staff members of hotels and not only managers. Virendra Tiwari of Bharat Scout and Guides requested to Mela authorities to put a check on the priests on Har Ki Pauri using benches meant for people’s use in opening tea shacks.
Social activist Ambrish Kumar said, “The need was to search for a fool proof solution to the city problems and keep mela away from the city. long term infrastructural planning was needed keeping 2021 kumbh mela which witnesses people from various countries.” He also advised the state government to levy vehicle tax coming to the city which would generate revenue of 50 crores annually and facilitate in kumbh mela works. He said that road repair works and anti-encroachment must be taken on regular basis rather than Kumbh mela preparation works. Educationist Sunil Batra asked for a socio economic study to be done for the mela.
Meanwhile the Mela Adhikari and Mela DIG appealed to the media to discuss them of any problem confronted before exposing sensitive issues to the public. He said their team was available for 24 hours in a day. Press Club president P S Chauhan and general secretary Shravan Jha gave memento and shawl to the Mela officials at the end of the programme.