The Rajim Kumbh Mela-2014 will begin on February 14, with the holy dip on Maghi Poornima day and will conclude on February 27, with the holy dip on Mahashivratri.
Two senior Ministers—Brijmohan Agrawal and Ajay Chandrakar—have issued strict instructions to the officers of departments concerned to speed up work for successfully holding the biggest religious celebration of the State. However, preparation for the Mela is yet to take momentum. Every year PWD constructs temporary roads on the place of convergence before the start of the Mela. However, this year, because of departmental non-coordination, the road construction work has been stopped from Sunday. Road construction work is done at the initial phase of preparation for the Mela, after which the works of other departments like PHE, Irrigation, Forest, CSEB, Food etc make progress. As the roads are not constructed, officers of these departments have to go through various problems.
However, work on selection of place and preparation of pond for holy bath, staying facility for sadhu-sants, place of pooja and place of Yagna was going on. Painting of the temple is also in progress. Pipeline is being laid for drinking water arrangement. To give guidelines for the preparation and arrangements, Mela secretary OSD Girish Bissa makes continuous visit to Rajim Mela venue and inspects the works of various departments.
Besides, along with construction of more than 10 giant domes for the stay of Sant-Mahatmas, many huge Kunts are being made at a rapid pace for Havan. Officers of Dhamtari district administration and culture and tourism departments of Raipur district regularly visit the venue to review the works going on there. February 10 has been fixed as the last date for preparations of all departments.