Preparations underway for Ardh Kumb Mela 2007

Allahabad, Oct 6 (UNI) As the water levels of the Ganga and the Yamuna rivers recede, preparations for the auspicious Ardh Kumbh Mela 2007 have begun in Allahabad.

The mela, which is organised every three years at four different locations in India, attracts devotees from around the country.

A tent city on the sandy beach of the river Yamuna has been set up. Camping in these tents are the various government departments, including the public works department, power corporation, water works and health department. The government has set December 15 as the deadline for completion of the mela work.

The state government has sanctioned Rs 170 crore to the various departments for organising the mela. The divisional commissioner has ordered monitoring of the work done by various departments to ensure adequate transparency during verification and audit. The mela covers an area of 1600 hectares of land and will be divided into 12 sectors, according to Mela officer Pragyan Ram Mishra.

Following a change of course by the river Ganga towards Jhusi, the mela will be held in the city side. Levelling of the land will be started soon, he said.

The mela administration has decided to construct fourteen phontoon bridges on the river Ganga, work for which has already started.

The mela administration could face the wrath of the sadhus and mahatamas following high pollution levels in river Ganga.

The sadhus have warned to boycott the mela and taking of '' jal samadhi '' if the mela administration fails to provide them clean water in river Ganga by December 25 next.

The Allahabad High Court had ordered the release of adequate water from Tehri and Narora dams and taping of the drains which were directly falling in the river Ganga, thereby polluting it. But the government has yet to take action.In Allahabad alone, about 57 drains of the city lead to the Ganga and Yamuna rivers.

The saints, besides taping the drains, have also demanded closing of the tanneries in Kanpur, which they claim directly releases polluted water in the river.

According to Mr Mishra, an artificial pond on the bank of the Ganga river is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 80 lakh.

He assured that not even a single drop of polluted water would be allowed to flow in the river after October 15 next.

The drainage water would lead to this artificial pond, he said, ensuring that the bathers and devotees would get clean water during the Ardh Kumbh Mela.

The sadhus, however, have objected to the construction, calling it a temporary arrangement.

Days considered auspicious for taking a holy dip during the month-long mela include: January 3 (paush purnima), Janaury 14 (makar sankranti), January 19 (mauni amavashya, the most auspicious bathing day of the mela), January 23 (basant panchami), Febuary 2 (maghi poornima) and February 16 (maha shivratri).

The Indian Railways and the UP State Road Transport Corporation have decided to run special trains and buses during the mela.

The police have also stepped up viligance following increased terror threats.

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