Covid-19 threat: Magh Mela 2022 to be held on a smaller scale
PRAYAGRAJ: : The Magh Mela2022, which is all set to begin from January 14/15 next year with the holy bathing of Makar Sankranti, may be held on a smaller scale than its previous editions due to the strict government measures to minimise the possible spread of coronavirus. However, Prayagraj Mela Authority (PMA) is determined to ensure that seers, pilgrims and devotees visiting the fair get best of the facilities, said officials.
With the aim of better management of facilities, the PMA has entrusted the responsibilities to high-ranked officials this time around. In this process, perhaps for the first time an IAS official—Sheshmani Pandey— has been made the Mela Adhikari of the annual religious fair and administration is even mulling over a proposal for appointing SDM ranked officials for each sector of the tent city, informed a senior district administration official aware of the development.
The arrangements in Magh Mela 2022 are expected to be managed on the lines of Kumbh and Mahakumbh. “The need for senior officials to be placed as sector in-charge of the different sectors of the Magh Mela along with other department comes in wake of the fact that there is a dearth of senior officials in the PMA,” said the official.
Meanwhile, the Mela Adhikari inspected different ongoing preparatory works at the mela area on Monday.
“We have ensured that the two important pontoon bridges will be completed by December 15 while the rest will be ready by December 31,” said the Mela Adhikari, Shesh Mani Pandey.