In order to facilitate peaceful completion of Kanwar Mela slated to begin from July 13, Haridwar Senior Superintendent of Police Sadanand Date has directed the police officers to step up security and remain vigilant on anti-social elements who may spread rumours during the Mela.
The administration has begun repairing the path along the canal used by Kanwarias and other necessary arrangements for water, electricity and other facilities are being made in the district, he added.
He said that lakhs of Shiva devotees from various places across the country visit Haridwar (Har-Ki-Pauri) to fetch Ganga water during Kanwar Mela and due to ongoing month of Ramzan observed by Muslims, police officers have been directed to be vigilant in their assigned area apart from which additional police force will be deployed at sensitive places on Kanwar Mela routes in the district.
Alternate routes for Kanwarias have been developed to minimise traffic load and ensure smooth flow of traffic on highway and main roads.
Biometric registration of Kanwarias will be done at the bus stand and railway station from July 10 and also at important places Narsen, Bhagwanpur, Shyampur and other areas from where the pilgrims enter Haridwar district. Police officers will be assigned to monitor the registration.
Moreover, the Mela area has been divided into two super zones, 22 zones and 89 sectors. The Mela control room will remain open 24 hours and officials deputed here can be contacted on phone for water, electricity, road, and medical facility. The police officers have been directed to use WhatsApp messenger on smart phones for coordination.
Control room which will have ambulance, firemen and policemen with similar facilities at points along the Mela routes. The police officers have been directed to ensure that no Kanwarias carry hockey sticks, baseball bats, bamboo sticks and loudspeakers in their vehicles, the SSP added.
In another development, Haridwar district magistrate D Senthil Pandiyan presided over a meeting with the representatives of commercial establishments and issued instructions to officers regarding the Kanwar Mela.
He directed the officers to ensure that excavation of roads for telecom works be stopped immediately. The executive engineers of departments concerned were directed to ensure that excavation works on roads are not started before securing permission from the DM. He said that hotel and Dharamshala representatives will form a core team with an objective to complete Kanwar Mela peacefully in the district.