Assurance of cleaner Ganga for 2007 'Ardh Kumbh'

Allahabad, Aug 10 (UNI) The devotees visiting the famous 'Ardh Kumbh Mela' in January next year will get clean water for bathing and other rituals at 'Sangam' here.

''We will provide clean water to devotees visiting the 2007 fair at Sangam, the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati,'' Mela officer Pragyan Ram Mishra told UNI here today.

A big pond will be constructed, at an estimated cost of Rs 80 lakh, where all the sewers falling in Ganga will be diverted.

''Not a single drop of polluted water will fall into Ganga after October 15, till the completion of the Mela,'' Mr Mishra added.

About 57 big and small drains fall in Ganga and Yamuna here.

Mr Mishra said the tanneries in Kanpur were causing pollution in Ganga. ''I will visit Kanpur soon and meet concerned officials to check the mixing of polluted water in the sacred river.'' The Mela officer will also meet senior government officials for the release of adequate water from Tehri and Narora dams.

The saints and sadhus have already launched a nationwide agitation over the demand of clean water in Ganga.

Meanwhile, the Mela administration had given Rs 50 lakh to the Uttar Pradesh Tourism department for the publicity of the fair.

Mr Mishra said 14 pontoon bridges would be constructed over Ganga to ensure smooth flow of pilgrims during the Mela.

To check any possible subversive acitivity, the government will take the help of army, besides deploying anti-bomb and dog squad and CCTVs.

On the allotment of land to akharas and saints, Mr Mishra said this work start after the rainy season.

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