Govt to ensure smooth conduct of Kumbh: Mahajan

Nashik: Water Resources Department minister Girish Mahajan on Saturday said the govt would leave no stone unturned to ensure the smooth conduct of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela to be held at Nashik and Trimbakeshwar.A two-day conference by the Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti (All India Saints Committee) started on Saturday, during which the Nashik Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority (NTKMA) presented plans for the Kumbh Mela in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar and outlined the facilities to be provided for seers and pilgrims visiting both places. "Govt is fully prepared to rise to every challenge. We will ensure that neither Nashik nor Trimbakeshwar faces any shortage of resources or facilities for the Simhastha."The conference was attended by the committee's general secretary Jitendranand Saraswati, mayor Himgouri Adke, deputy mayor Vilas Shinde, standing committee chairman Machhindra Sanap, president of the Akhada Parishad Shrimant Ravindra Puri Maharaj (Mahanirvani Akhada) and others.Minister Mahajan said, "Having secured a planning window of two and a half years for this Kumbh, we intend to completely transform the city through meticulous micro-planning for which developmental works worth Rs 28,000 crore are being undertaken as against Rs 4,000 crore during 2014-15 Kumbh Mela."He also underlined the need for land acquisition for future fairs. "It will be impossible to host Kumbh Mela in future without the availability of adequate land. Chief minister is also favourably inclined towards acquiring sufficient land in both Nashik and Trimbakeshwar and fair compensation will be provided to landlords of the properties involved."During the meeting, saints and sages expressed their collective resolve to implement the concept of a "Nasha-mukt Kumbh" (Drug-free Kumbh). Mahajan said, "We will certainly work towards providing a positive direction to the youth through the medium of a ‘Nasha-mukt Kumbh'."