Safety, convenience of Ardh Kumbh devotees top priority: Rawat

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat today said better facilities are being provided this year to devotees visiting the Ardha Kumbh Mela held on the banks of the Ganga in Haridwar and asked officials to treat their convenience and safety as their topmost priority.
Rawat, who visited Har Ki Pairi today to take stock of preparations for the event whose first ritual bath is to take place on January 14 on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, asked officials to keep a tab on the quality of work in the construction of new bridges being built for the convenience and safety of devotees saying there can be no compromise on the twin parameters.

He also held a meeting with officials in the mela's control room to review the preparations and asked them to treat the safety and convenience of devotees as their top priority.
He also asked mela officials to ensure uninterrupted power and water supply in the mela area for 24 hours during the four-month period.
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Rawat said there will be no shortage of funds for Ardha Kumbh mela preparations and projects related to the event which are awaiting financial sanction will get it within the next ten days, an official release in Dehradun said.

Organising the event safely is the biggest challenge before us and we will collectively ensure this, he said.

He also launched a website, a logo and mobile app on Ardha Kumbh mela for the convenience of devotees.
Describing the vast religious congregation as a litmus test for the efficiency of mela related officials, he said they should keep a backup plan ready to deal with any emergency and step up night patrol in mela area.