Centre steps in for successful ‘Kumbh’ in Haridwar

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 17

The Centre has stepped in to help Uttarakhand Government to ensure success of the coming religious mega event, ‘Kumbh’, in Haridwar, which kicks off from January 14, next year.

The Centre has approved a slew of infrastructure projects aimed at revitalising the Ganges, and to give a face-lift to its embankments in the holy city of Haridwar.

The Centre's thrust is on making Haridwar a hot destination for religious tourism. The Kumbh will be used to showcase to the world the aesthetic aspect of Haridwar backed by infrastructure.

The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under the Union Jal Shakti Ministry has sanctioned projects worth Rs 85 crore to Uttarakhand for the Kumbh. These are in addition to projects undertaken by NMCG in the recent past.

"The new projects  include provision of adequate number of toilets, urinals, arrangements for solid waste management – including dustbins, septage conveyance and co-treatment at newly constructed STPs, bioremediation and IEC activities," NMCG Director-General Rajiv Ranjan Mishra said on Tuesday.

The Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has instructed to extend all possible assistance to state authorities from the Namami Gange Mission for ensuring good water quality and sanitation standards of the highest level.

The NMCG has completed  all major Namami Gange projects in Uttarakhand, several of which were recently inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A ministry official said that sewerage projects in Haridwar had been completed under the Namami Gange. The sewage treatment capacity will take care of the city's need for the next 15 years.

All the drains on the main stream of Ganga have already been intercepted and sewage treatment plants (STPs) are functional now.

The newly built Ganga museum, which describes in detail the heritage nuances associated with Ganga, is expected to be an additional attraction for devotees visiting the city.

Kumbh Mela, the largest religious gathering in the world, is held every 12 years in rotation at four holy places of Haridwar, Allahabad, Ujjain and Nasik.