New Delhi, 24 July (H.S.):
The Delhi Government has finalised its preparations to welcome Kanwariyas arriving in the national capital with holy Ganga water from Haridwar and other sacred pilgrimage sites during the holy month of Shravan. A high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was held on Friday to assess the arrangements being made to ensure that the Kanwar Yatra is conducted in a smooth, safe, well-organised and devotional manner.
Addressing the meeting at the Delhi Secretariat, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that the Kanwar Yatra is a living symbol of social harmony and India's cultural heritage. She said that during the month of Shravan, when lakhs of devotees of Lord Shiva pass through the streets of Delhi chanting “Har Har Mahadev” and “Bol Bam,” the entire atmosphere is filled with devotion and spiritual fervour.
She said that the Delhi Government has made comprehensive arrangements to ensure that every Kanwariya entering the capital receives respect, security and the best possible facilities.
The Chief Minister said that the government's commitment is to ensure that every devotee of Lord Shiva visiting Delhi feels safe, respected and welcomed. She directed officials and all concerned agencies to work in close coordination with a spirit of public service while making arrangements for the pilgrimage.
Rekha Gupta announced that welcome gates would be erected along major routes and entry points across Delhi to greet Kanwariyas. Arrangements would also be made to welcome devotees with flower showers. She added that she herself would visit different parts of the city to welcome the pilgrims.
She said that the people of Delhi have always shown remarkable devotion and a spirit of service towards devotees of Lord Shiva, and this year too, the government and citizens together would make the Kanwar Yatra a memorable festival of faith, hospitality and public service.
The Chief Minister said that a single-window system has been introduced to simplify the process of obtaining permissions and other facilities for Kanwar committees. The objective is to ensure that committees do not have to approach multiple government departments and receive all necessary assistance in a time-bound manner.
She instructed officials to maintain strong coordination with Kanwar committees and provide every possible support based on their actual requirements so that devotees staying at the camps receive the best available facilities.
Rekha Gupta directed officials to accord the highest priority to cleanliness at Kanwar camps. She instructed that sanitation services should operate round the clock and that an adequate number of sanitation workers be deployed.
She also directed that the number of mobile toilets be increased while ensuring high standards of quality, regular cleaning and proper maintenance. She emphasised that only high-quality mobile toilets should be installed at the camps and that the responsibility for their upkeep must be clearly assigned to the concerned agencies. She warned that negligence at any level would not be tolerated.
The meeting also included a detailed review of healthcare arrangements for Kanwariyas. The Chief Minister instructed the Health Department to ensure adequate medical facilities at all camps. Doctors and healthcare workers are to be deployed in multiple shifts so that medical assistance remains available throughout the day and night.
She further directed officials to ensure an adequate supply of safe drinking water, uninterrupted electricity, and effective measures to prevent waterlogging during the monsoon.
Traffic management and security arrangements along the Kanwar routes were also reviewed in detail. The Chief Minister directed officials to complete all preparations related to barricading, traffic diversions, PCR deployment and accident prevention in coordination with the Delhi Police and the Traffic Police well in advance.
She said that traffic management on major entry routes should ensure that the religious journey of Kanwariyas continues smoothly while minimising inconvenience to the general public.
The review meeting was attended by Delhi Government Minister for Art and Culture and Chairman of the Kanwar Committee Kapil Mishra, committee members and MLAs Ajay Mahawar, Anil Sharma, Karnail Singh, Sanjay Goyal and Umang Bajaj, along with senior officials from various government departments.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
