State seeks Rs 100 cr in central funds for next Kumbh Mela

State seeks Rs 100 cr in central funds for next Kumbh Mela
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

MUMBAI, FEB 24: After Uttar Pradesh, it is the turn of the Maharashtra Government. The state government is preparing itself to play host to the Sinhastha Kumbh Mela to be held in Nashik in 2003-2004.

At a review meeting held here on Friday, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh chalked out plans for arranging funds for Kumbha Mela preparations. It was decided that the state would demand Rs 100 crore from the Centre and also to rope in the private sector to make available the facilities needed for the event.

The government expects 2.5 lakh sadhus and 75 lakh devotees to visit Nashik to take a dip in the Godavari between July 2003 and August 2004, in which period there are several `parvanis' (holy occasions).

The State government, for its part, has earmarked Rs 75 crore for providing facilities at the Kumbha Mela.

The Chief Minister has directed the guardian minister of Nashik Surupsinh Naik, minister of state for dairy development A T Pawar and Mayor Shobha Bachhav to involve industrial houses and NGOs in constructing facilities for the Kumbh.

Nashik Municipal Corporation has already prepared a blueprint for the arrangements to be made for the mela.

The NMC plans to instal a Sadhu Camp in Panchvati and Tapovan for the event, which will have tents, concrete roads and water supply arrangements.

Local authorities will also be asked to make separate arrangements at Nashik and Trimbakeshwar on the banks of Godavari river for the `Shahi Snan' of sadhus of the Vaishnav and Shaiv sects.

Other proposals of the local administration include reconstruction of the Ahilya Ghat and concretisation of roads leading to Godavari's banks.