In view of Kanwar Mela, ongoing month of Ramzan observed by Muslims and other factors, additional police force will be deployed at sensitive places on Kanwar Mela routes. Use of loudspeakers will not be allowed at community kitchens after 10 pm.
Kanwarias will not be allowed to use DJs and loudspeakers on their vehicles apart from which they will be prohibited from carrying hockey sticks, baseball bats and other items that may be used as weapons, said State Director General of Police BS Sidhu after presiding over a meeting with police officers of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and representatives ITBP, Railway Protection Force, Government Railway Police, Intelligence Bureau and others at Police Headquarters on Thursday.
The police officers discussed last years' challenges faced by the police during Kanwar Mela and measures needed to prevent untoward incidents during the Mela this year. It should be mentioned here that lakhs of lord Shiva devotees from various places across the country visit Haridwar (Har-Ki-Pauri) to fetch Ganga water during Kanwar Mela scheduled to begin from July 13.
“All possible steps will be taken to ensure smooth and hassle free Kanwar Mela, with maximum facilities for the Kanwarias and the minimum inconvenience to the road users and local residents along the routes used by Kanwarias," he added. Sidhu said that alternate routes will be provided for Kanwarias to ensure smooth flow of vehicular traffic on the highway and main roads. GRP and RPF will take measures to prevent Kanwarias from sitting on top of railway coaches to reach Haridwar.
He further said, "Elaborate security arrangements including deployment of additional police force, PAC jawans, Rapid Action Force, bomb disposal squads and fire fighting measures will be put in place at important places for peaceful conduct of Kanwan Mela. CCTV cameras will also be installed at sensitive points on Mela routes." In the meeting, it has decided that Mela control rooms with ambulance, firemen, policemen and emergency service providers will be established for the convenience of Kanwarias.
The nearest control room will be the first responder in case of any incident on the Mela route. A central mela control room will be established at district level from where relevant information will be disseminated.
He further said that new permissions for setting up community kitchens on Mela routes will not be given and the groups which have providing this facility for years now will be allowed to do so this year after securing permission from the administration of the district concerned.
In order to keep a record of Kanwarias for their identification, the administration will facilitate voluntary biometric registration of Kanwarias at State entry points.
The police officers will be vigilant on anti-social elements with the help of social networking. They have been directed to use mobile phone applications for coordination, he added.