Kumbh Mela 2021- Maintain Strict Vigilance So That Haridwar Doesn't Emerge As A Hotbed For Spread Of COVID-19: Uttarakhand HC

The Bench of Chief Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan and Justice Alok Kumar Verma was hearing a batch of PILs concerning Covid-management during upcoming Kumbh Mela celebrations.

During the course of the last hearing (dated 22^nd February), the Court had directed the Chief Secretary of the State and Mela Adhikari to submit reports indicating measures taken up by the administration and the facilities to be provided to the Tourists/pilgrims during their stay at Haridwar and Rishikesh.

Pursuant to the Court's direction, a report was submitted before the Court on 05^th March by the Mela Adhikari, Deepak Rawat stating: -

• 4,219 Swiss Tents, European Tents, Darbari tents would be erected for housing the medical staff, police personnel, and other staff members during the Kumbh Mela.
• Out of 4,219 tents, 2,822 tents have already been erected. The Report assured the Court that by 30th March, 2021 the remaining number of the tents would be erected.
• The number of Hotels, Dharamshalas, Akhadas, Ashrams, homestays, and private accommodation would be able to accommodate about 5.53 Lakhs pilgrims.
• It is being ensured that 11,807 temporary toilets, 1,670 bathrooms, 6,674 temporary urinals are installed in Haridwar, and 217 toilets and 57 urinals are installed in Rishikesh.
• Already 389 toilets and 31 urinals are currently functional and are operative in the Haridwar Nagar Nigam area.
• 87 changing rooms have already been installed between Har-ki-Pauri and Gau-Ghat. Moreover, Mahila-Ghat-Hallhas have been made functional wherein a maximum of 50 women would be able to change in the changing rooms. Furthermore, so far 500 changing rooms have been installed in the Kumbh Mela area.
• A total of 17 works of permanent nature is proposed for the construction, restoration and repairs of the Ghats in the Kumbh Mela Area. Out of these 17 works, 15 works have been completed.
• The temporary works for the cleaning of the Ghats and of the river is going on, around the clock, so as to ensure that silt and algae do not accumulate in the river.

On the other hand, the counsel for the petitioner questioned the position being taken by Mr. Deepak Rawat (Mela Adhikari) by stating that the large numbers of photographs attached in his report clearly reveal the unfinished work still left.

Significantly, it was pointed out that prior to the commencement of Maha Kumbh Mela, on 11^th March 2021, "Mahashivratri" would be celebrated and that about 50 lakh people will reach Haridwar to take the holy dip in the holy Ganges.

But the SOPs issued both by the Central Government and State Government are applicable from 01^st April 2021, and so it was requested before the Court that the said SOP should be made applicable on 11^th March 2021 also.

Court's Order

The Court observed that though the affidavit filed by Mela Adhikari, is encouraging, but it needs to be supplemented with photographs which would clearly bring out the large construction work and the arrangements being carried out by the respondent-State.

Further, noting that a great possibility does exist that a large number of people would gather in Haridwar to perform their religious rites, the Court directed the State Government to make ample preparation and to implement the SOPs issued by the Central and the State Government even on 11^th March 2021.

Also, noting that here is again a great possibility that the pilgrims may want to avail themselves both the days (12^th and 14^th April) for taking their holy dip in the Ganges, the Court remarked,

"This Court hopes that this great possibility would be kept in mind by the State Government while making the arrangements for the pilgrims, who would gather in Haridwar and Rishikesh for the Maha Kumbh Mela."

Further, the Court directed the Mela Adhikari to accompany counsel for the petitioner and the Member Secretary DLSA in order to carry out an inspection of the civil construction work and the arrangements being made in an around Kumbh Mela Area and in Haridwar.

Both, the Counsel and the Member Secretary DLSA have been directed to file their reports (indicating the status of the Preparations) before the Court by 23^rd March 2021.

Lastly, the Mela Adhikari was also directed to submit a report accompanied with photographs of all the major construction works, repairs, and renovation being carried out on or before 23.03.2021.

The matter has now been listed for further hearing on 24^th April 2021.

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