Rs 758 cr plan for Maha Kumbh in 2012-13 at Prayag

ALLAHABAD: The Maha Kumbh, aptly termed as `mother of all congregations', is scheduled for 2012-13 in the holiest pilgrim city of Allahabad, or Prayag as it is known traditionally. To cater to the crores of pilgrims who will throng the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers, proposals worth Rs 758 crores have been forwarded by the district administration to the government. These funds are to be utilised for roads, drinking water, electricity, food and essential supplies, tourism, flood control and health.Districtmagistrate Rajiv Aggarwal informed that the Maha Kumbh mela of 2012-13 isexpected to witness a surge in the number of pilgrims visiting here. Over 9.50crore pilgrims took the dip during the last Kumbh at Prayag in the year 2001.This number is expected to increase in 2012 as the population and also faith hasincreased significantly in the last decade. The administration is vying for aneco-friendly and clean Maha Kumbh 2012, he added.The hallmark of theproposals submitted is the stress on environment. A new sewage treatment plantfor the trans-Ganga Jhunsi area is proposed at a cost of Rs 50 crores. Theentire area will be a no-tobacco zone. Interestingly, last year's Magh Mela wasthe first when tobacco and cigarettes were banned in the Sangam area. Specialcare will be taken to see that polluted water does not run-off into the river,and cleanliness is maintained at all times.The occasion will be usedto give a major fillip to tourism. Permanent ghats, jetties and piers areproposed at a cost of Rs 54 crores from Qilaghat to Sangam, at Boat club, and atArail. River front development, a mainstay of the National River Authority also,will be a key area. Spurs will be built as measures of flood and erosioncontrol.Then, a tourism village and handicrafts bazaar are also inthe pipeline. A new bridge is proposed on the Ganga further downstream. Thiswill give a boost to the economy of the entire region. The Allahabad DevelopmentAuthority has submitted a project for widening of road alongside the Ganga andupgradation of the scenic Triveni Pushp at Arail, Naini worth Rs 20 crores.The electricity department has proposed works worth Rs 183 crores,both temporary as well as permanent. Permanent works would include augmentingcapacity of sub-stations at Rewa Road, Daraganj, Fort Road, Mayo Hall, JhunsiAwas Vikas, Rambagh, Keetganj, George Town, Minto Park and others, constructionof new sub-stations at Gaughat and Bakshi Bandh as also laying new electricitycables while old cables would be strengthened. On the other hand,temporary works undertaken in the sangam region include construction of HTlines, laying down LT lines of different sizes, construction of a sub-stationand installation of different kinds of street lights in the area. Electricityworth nearly Rs 15 crores will be consumed to keep the entire area lighted upduring the entire Mela. Jal Nigam will undertake water supply forthe crores of pilgrims. Its proposal for Rs 54 crores also includes constructionof drains and sewers for disposal of waste water, watering over roads,construction of fire tanks and maintenance of permanent water supply. JalSansthan will chip in with enhanced sewage disposal systems. The Ganga PollutionControl Unit of the Jal Nigam has proposed a new STP in Jhunsi area. Thisincorporates construction of sewer line with appurtenant works, nala tappingarrangements, intermediate and main sewage pumping stations with all requiredcivil, electrical and mechanical works as also a sewage treatment plant of 16.75mld.The Nagar Nigam is to undertake cleanliness drive in the area toensure prevention of contagious diseases, lighting up the entire region withstreet lights and sodium lamps, construction of temporary and permanent urinalsand repair of roads, lanes, by-lanes and drains, catch stray animals like dogs,pigs as also install signages and hoardings etc for which they have asked for asum of Rs 30 crores.The public works department will construct anextensive network of roads in and around Allahabad to cater to the suddeninflux. To this end, they will undertake construction of 14 big pontoon bridgesand 11 small pontoon bridges, metalled pathways, construction of concrete roadsas also widening of city roads. With a new bridge across the Ganga in theoffing, PWD has asked for a sum of Rs 234 crores. The health andmedical department will provide for round-the-clock cleanliness with workers onfoot for garbage collection and transport facilities for garbage transportation,sanitary works, prevention of contagious diseases, emergency preparations andimproved medical facilities. A number of hospitals will be set up for thepurpose. Rs 27 crores will be spent on this back-breaking work.Thetourism department needs Rs 10 crores for development of a mini Indian villageand `shilp haat' (handicrafts market) at the Triveni Pushp site. It is proposedto build a tourist village complex which would give a peek into the easternUttar Pradesh culture a la the Chokhi-Dhani in Rajasthan a big touristattraction.Ferrying these mind-boggling numbers to and fro from theSangam area is a challenging task. Even as the Indian Railways will run severalspecial trains, the UP State Roadways Corporation proposes to set up numeroustemporary bus stations at Jhunsi, KP College Ground, Arail etc and ply specialbuses on busy routes. The Kumbh is a special affair when a newdistrict is created just in the limited area. The over-all management isentrusted to the DM of this new district. The administrative department whichoversees the smooth operations of all the concerned departments as also ensurepeace by maintaining law and order during the mela has submitted a proposal ofRs 20 crores. As the works such as construction of bridges, spurs,ghats, widening of roads, development of parks have a long gestation period,preparations for the Maha Kumbh have already begun. Actual work will commenceonce the proposals are through, said an official.