Just 10 days left for Kanwar Yatra, Ganga ghats yet not ready

With less than 10 days to go for the annual pilgrimage of Shravan Kanwar, condition of Kanwar stretch, popularly known as Kanwar patri, and Ganga ghats is not up to the mark.

With potholes and garbage on the Kanwar stretch, on-foot Kanwariyas are likely to face problems. Even at Kanwar Mela zone of Har-Ki-Pauri cemented stairs leading to Ganga ghats are not in good condition. Tiles on the stairs are broken at many places posing threat to Kanwariyas, who may slip in the river.

Ganga Sabha general secretary Ram Kumar Mishra said that ghats were renovated two years ago.

Later, as per the government directives the renovation and maintenance work was handed over to the irrigation department of Uttar Pradesh, which still holds irrigation department land in considerable proportion in the district, he added.

UP Irrigation department officials claimed that the maintenance work is going on and it will get completed prior to the commencement of Kanwar Mela on July 28.

Kanwar Mela nodal officer Mamta Vohra, who inspected the Kanwar stretch two days back, said that directives have been given to concerned departmental officials to ensure patchwork, proper water, lighting and safety arrangements for Kanwariyas on the Kanwar stretch.

“All the related government departments and nodal agencies have been directed to ensure time-bound completion of the Kanwar works. By next week, all the arrangements, maintenance and security set-up will be in place,” Vohra said.

Garhwal commissioner Shailesh Bagoli earlier this week had directed officials to ensure potholes be filled by July 22, so that Kanwariyas do not face any inconvenience. He had warned if any accident occurs during the Kanwar pilgrimage due to bad condition of roads, FIR will be lodged against the responsible officials.

Last year, more than 2.5 crore Kanwariyas had arrived in Haridwar to fetch the holy Ganga jal (water). This year, the fair administration expects arrival of more than 3 crore Kanwariyas.