CM Yogi on Magh Mela: Officers should enter the field on Magh Mela and festivals, strict action will be taken against looting and looting from devotees.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed the administration to be on high alert regarding the upcoming festivals and Magh Mela. In a high-level review meeting held through video conferencing on Friday evening, CM Yogi gave a clear message to the officials that they should go into the field and test the arrangements on the ground. He said that the safety and convenience of the devotees is the top priority of the state government and negligence in this will not be tolerated at any level.

The Chief Minister issued strict instructions especially to the officials of major religious places like Prayagraj, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Chitrakoot, Hapur (Garmukteshwar), Mathura-Vrindavan, Farrukhabad and Shahjahanpur. He said that it is the responsibility of the administration to ensure smooth movement of devotees, cleanliness of ghats, uninterrupted electricity and safe environment for women.

Emphasis on security and convenience in Magh Mela

It is estimated that 15 to 25 lakh devotees will gather in Prayagraj on the occasion of Paush Purnima. In view of this huge crowd, the Chief Minister has given instructions to strengthen health services. Adequate arrangements for medical staff and ambulances in hospitals as well as deployment of divers at the ghats have been made mandatory.

The CM clearly said that special care should be taken of cleanliness in the ghats and temple premises. There should be strong arrangements for changing rooms, control rooms and crowd management for women. He said that anarchy should not arise under any circumstances and every devotee should be able to take bath and worship in a safe environment.

Strict action against looting and arbitrariness

The Chief Minister has taken a tough stance on illegal collection of money from devotees at pilgrimage sites. He gave strict instructions to stop arbitrary fare collection by sailors and arbitrariness of hotels.

“Senior officers should go to the field and ensure that no sailor charges arbitrary fees from the devotees and there is no arbitrary fee in the hotels too. Strict action should be taken against those who do so.” — Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister

Cold wave and arrangement of night shelters

In view of the severe cold and cold wave in the state, CM Yogi has ordered to improve the system of night shelters. He said that arrangements for bonfires and lighting at railway stations, bus stands and public places should be strengthened. Police have been given the responsibility of increasing patrolling and taking the needy to night shelters. CM clearly says that no person should be forced to sleep under the open sky.

Women safety and law and order

The Chief Minister has asked to adopt a policy of ‘zero tolerance’ regarding the safety of women. Instructions have been given to deploy police in plain clothes at fair areas and public places and to identify and take action against unruly elements. Also, those who commit hooliganism in the name of organizations or put pressure on the administration have been asked to deal strictly.

Instructions on Infrastructure and Flood Protection

In the meeting, the Chief Minister also discussed future preparations. He directed all the districts to prepare a detailed action plan for flood prevention in the next 10 days. Apart from this, the Public Works Department has been asked to identify land for permanent helipads near district headquarters and tehsils, so that one does not have to depend on temporary arrangements for VIP movement or in case of emergency.

To deal with the problem of traffic jams in cities, the CM directed to remove illegal taxi and bus stands and shift the vendors to designated places. He also talked about continuing the campaign against land mafia and timely disposal of complaints through public hearing.