UP govt mulls over making -ve RT-PCR report mandatory

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government is mulling making Covid-19 RT-PCR negative report mandatory for Kanwar Yatra and also minimising participation. It has already allowed Kanwar Yatra beginning July 25.

In a statement issued by his office, chief minister Yogi Adityanath said on Tuesday: “The traditional Kanwar Yatra will be allowed with Covid-19 safety protocols. Given the Covid-19 infection situation, the officials concerned should engage in a dialogue with various Kawar Sanghs (the associations of Kanwariyas) and request them to minimise participation. Also engage in talks with Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Uttarakhand (governments) and issue necessary directions for the yatra. If needed, the government might make negative RT-PCR report mandatory (for those undertaking the yatra)”.

Yogi said this at the high-level Covid-19 review meeting.

The CM’S fresh instructions came amid the experts in the country warning that allowing the religious pilgrimage that attracts millions could spark a possible third wave of Covid cases, months after the Mahakumbh (in Haridwar) drew 9.1 million devotees and seeded clusters of infections during the second wave.

Uttar Pradesh has announced that the yatra – in which Shiva devotees travel hundreds of kilometres to fetch water from the Ganga and carry it back to offer it in Shiva temples in their native places – will begin from July 25, but Uttarakhand, home to the yatra’s main destination, Haridwar, remained non-committal.

Yogi Adityanath held a dedicated meeting on July 9 to review Kanwar Yatra preparations and security arrangements through video conferencing with the divisional commissioners and senior police officers of various police zones in the state. Additional chief secretary home, Avnish Kumar Awasthi, director general of police, Mukul Goyal, additional chief secretary health, Amit Mohan Prasad, principal secretary to chief minister and information, Sanjay Prasad and others were also present.

At the meeting, Yogi had directed that the Kanwar Yatra should be taken out by the devotees in various districts and routes in the state in complete adherence of the Covid protocol.

There should not be any slackness regarding safety and no unnecessary assembly of crowds, he had said.