Mahakumbh in-charge Mani Prasad Mishra told here today that while in 2001 mahakumbh, the total days of the mela was only 44 days but this time it would be 55 days.

“The authorities have increased the area of the mela by 56 per cent if compared to 2001 kumbh to accommodate about 90 million people who would be visiting during 5 main bathing days starting from Makar Sankranti on January 14, 2013 to Shivratri on March 10 2013," he claimed. If compared to 2007, Ardh Kumbh mela, the area increased this time would be around 44 per cent. 

Mishra said that works to develop the infrastructure was underway on a war-footing and all preparation would be completed on time. "Roads, drinking water, sanitation and electricity would be the priority for the authorities to complete by this December, so that the pilgrims get all facilities in time," he added. 

While the highest over 30 million pilgrims are expected in the Mahakumbh on Mauni Amavasya on February 10 followed by around 20 million on Basant Panchami on February 15, 16 million on Maghi Purnima on February 25, 11 million on the opening Makar-Sankranti on January 14, 5.5 million on Paush Purnima on January 27 and similar number on Shivratri on March 10.

To keep the Kumbh Mela area free from polythene, a team constituted by the Mela authorities is conducting a mass awareness campaign in different parts of the city.

Post warden, civil defence, Rajendra Tiwari said, "We are organising seminars where we are asking the people to prepare two cotton bags in every household which in turn would be distributed free to pilgrims coming to the Kumbh Mela. Besides cotton bags, the civil defence volunteers would also hand over paperbags to visitors and tourists so keep the Mela area polythene-free.

The team is receiving encouraging response from both the seers and public. The chief priest of Alopi Shankari temple Digambar Narendra Puri has donated 300 cotton bags for distribution among pilgrims.

An Allahapur-based trader is distributing pamphlets and leaflets among customers to spreadawareness about the ill-effects of using polythene.

The laying of pontoon bridges will start by October 20 this year. and thereafter went to the store of PWD in Mela area where he inspected the iron sleepers which would be laid on the river bank area.

Curtsy by : Times of India.

The Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT) has been entrusted the job to check quality of work in the construction of five power sub-stations to be set up on and around the Sangam campus. Five 33\11 KV power sub-stations would be set up at sangam for uninterrupted power supply during Mahakumbh.

District Magistrate Rajshekhar inspected on Friday construction of the four 33\11 KV power sub-stations at sangam and other areas and directed that the quality of the work be checked by the MNNIT. The DM first checked the Bakshi Bandh 33\11 KV sub station being constructed at a cost of Rs 5 crore and expected to be complete by October 31.

Once it is ready, transformers would be set up. With the installation of transformer/power sub-station, uninterrupted power supply would be supplied to Daraganj, Allahapur and two STPs ( Sewage Treatment Plants).

Two independent feeders would be supplying power to the mela campus and a 3-km electricity line will connect the sub-station with Teliyarganj.

The DM instructed checking of civil and electrical work before September 20.

He also inspected the under-construction power sub-station at Ustapur (Jhunsi) and asked executive engineer of the Public Works Department to construct a 400-meter road for the sub-station being built at a cost of around Rs 5.28 crore expected to be complete by November-end.

Work to lay underground cable is expected to be complete by October 15.

Another power sub-station is being constructed at Boat Club and this sub-station would supply electricity to Gaughat, Kumbh Mela, Kydganj, Baluaghat and adjoining areas.

Curtsy by : 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/allahabad/MNNIT-to-oversee-power-sub-stations-construction/articleshow/16401768.cms

As a part of preparations for Mahakumbh, the North Central Railway is making elaborate security measures for the passengers who will visit the city.

During Mahakumbh, Allahabad division will be divided into four sectors wherein various RPF personnel would be posted. The first sector will cover Allahabad area, second will include Subedarganj, Kanpur and Tundla, third will include Sangam area while in the last sector will cover Naini, Vindhyachal, Mirzapur and Chunar.

An officer of the rank of senior divisional security commissioner will function as mela security officer. To control any untoward incident, CCTVs will be installed at various locations at the station including booking counters, circulating area, parking stand, Passenger Reservation System (PRS).

CCTVs will also be installed in the enclosures set to accommodate the passengers. In addition, security control rooms will be set up at Allahabad station, Subedarganj station, Naini junction, Sangam area and Vindhyachal.

An array of assistant security commissioner, inspectors, sub inspectors, assistant sub inspectors, head constables and constables would be posted at vital installations during Mahakumbh.

In the first sector of Allahabad region, there would be about 700 RPF personnel.

These would include two assistant security commissioners, 10 inspectors, 20 sub-inspectors, 30 assistant sub-inspectors, 150 head constables and 500 constables.

In the third sector of Sangam, there would be one inspector, 2 sub-inspector, 5 assistant sub-inspector, 20 head constables and 70 constables. In the fourth sector comprising Naini, Vindhyachal, Mirzapur and Chunar, there would be an assistant security commissioner, 5 inspectors, 15 sub-inspectors, 20 assistant sub-inspectors, 75 head constables and 350 constables.

However, in the sector 2 covering Subedarganj, Kanpur and Tundla, there would be an assistant security commissioner, 2 inspectors, 10 sub-inspectors, 15 assistant sub-inspectors, 44 head constables and 175 constables.

RPF personnel would guard cash and booking offices, guarding parcels/packages on platforms and sidings. Further, RPF also guard stores and other property apart from cloak rooms, money changing offices, mela rakes and other rolling stocks on various stations.

NCR chief public relations officer Sandeep Mathur said security of passengers coming to Allahabad would be paramount during Mahabkumbh. Various CCTVs would be installed at Allahabad junction and other stations. Additional force will also be called to enhance the security at the station. Further, railways would co-operate with GRP for ensuring security to the passengers.

Meanwhile, District Magistrate Raj Shekhar on Tuesday inspected the progress in construction of the Alopibagh flyover, Kumbh entry gates and rail over-bridge in Jhunsi.

He further directed officials to speed up the projects so that they are completed on time.

While inspecting the Alopibagh flyover project, the DM viewed the project map. Project Manager of the Bridge Corporation apprised the DM that the project worth Rs 2,965 lakh is expected to be completed by October 15.

He also told the DM that the main part of the work is complete and the entire construction would be complete by October 15.

The DM also inspected the Kumbh entry gate which was under construction at Badalganj on Reewa road.

It was said that four 'kalash-es' (urns) would be installed at the upper portion of the entry gate and that each urn costs about Rs 1.5 lakh. Around Rs 46 lakh would be spent on the construction of the entry gate and it would be complete by November 30. The construction work was started on May 5, 2012.

The DM also inspected the rail over-bridge in Jhunsi, a project worth Rs 9.52 crore. He also inspected another entry gate being constructed at Sarpatipur, Andhawa at a cost of Rs 46 lakh.

Courtesy : Times of India, 12 Sept. 2012

Sending a letter of love, appreciation or good will from the spiritual spot of the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati is likely to become an easy task, as the postal department is all set to establish a floating post office near the Sangam, much to the convenience of devotees, who come from far and wide.

The sea of humanity in Allahabad during the 2013-Mahakumbh may pose a stiff challenge for the telecom operators and service providers, as the lines of communications may get choked due to excess overload. However, the same may not be the case with the floating post office.

And, if sources in the postal department are to be believed, then the department has already started the initial groundwork, which would help the devotees as well as the saints and seers to stay in touch with their near and dear ones during the mega event.

Speaking to TOI, director postal services, Allahabad region, Krishna Kumar Yadav, said, "The postal department has planned to appoint a gazetted Kumbh Mela officer (Group-B). During the last Mahakumbh held in 2001, the department had established 10 post offices in each sector, in addition to a central post office and four mobile such units. However, this year, we are planning to establish post offices in each of the 14 sectors." The total cost, added Yadav, to be incurred during the Mahakumbh by the department would be ranging from Rs 1.5 crore to 2 crore.

The department is also making provisions of having boats, which would take the letters directly from the devotees and subsequently dispatched to respective destinations, added Yadav.

When asked what are services, which the department is planning to offer to the devotees, saints and seers during Mahakumbh, Yadav, said, "The services offered by the department include registry, money order, parcel services, speed post, philately, saving accounts, and postal insurance among others."

The director further added that services like money order and parcel would help the state government generate revenue.

Courtesy : Times of India, 11 Sept. 2012

Divisional commissioner Divesh Chaturvedi has said all work pertaining to the arrangements for Kumbh Mela must be completed by the authorities concerned by November 30.

In addition, all ongoing work should be inspected at least once a week, and its physical report subsequently presented, he said. Chaturvedi issued these instructions while reviewing the work related to Kumbh at Gandhi gallery.

Expressing concern over the increase in complaints related to damage to manholes on the roads by Ganga Pollution Control Unit, he said the engineers of Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT) should check the same for quality.

He instructed the power department to complete the work of installation of poles by September 15. Further, the junction box installed at Harsh Vardhan crossing should be removed within a week, he said.

He also pulled up the Public Works Department ( PWD) authorities for failing to ensure the leveling of roads at different places, which is causing numerous problems to the commuters, and said the same should be done within a week.

The divisional commissioner also expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of work in the construction of various pucca ghats. He asked the irrigation department to complete the construction of Arail pucca ghat within this month when the water level decreases.

The authorities concerned were also asked to speed up the repair work on Thornhill Road near Halwai crossing. Meanwhile, Jal Nigam officials were given the September 30 deadline for completing the work of construction of overhead tanks. The issue of damaged drains below the Alopibagh bridge was also raised. 

Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

As it is expected that over 60,000 foreigners would be arriving city during Mahakumbh, traffic police department is all set to play a different role this Mahakumbh.

While smart traffic policemen would be deployed at strategic locations in and around mela area and they would be acting as 'path pradarshak ' for visitors especially for foreigners.

For that, the traffic police department has planned to impart training to its personnel to leave an everlasting impression on visitors.

However, this Mahakumbh, Mobile Barriers, Recovery Vehicles, Safety Bar Torches, Loud Hailer, helmets, Gas masks, ropes, florescent jackets/gloves are some equipment offering traffic police department to control the sea of crowd.

Drafting the final blueprint for managing traffic for Mahakumbh, the traffic police department has decided to set up three traffic police lines including Parade, Arail, and Jhunsi.

And, if there is more rush of devotees during main bathing days, the police forces would cover up to 100 kilometers of the borders where special parking lots would be developed. However, anticipating that over 10 crore people including around 60,000 foreigners would be coming Sangam city during Mahakumbh, the traffic police department has sought 1800 Mobile Barriers, 1200 Floroscent Jackets and Gloves, 350 Safety Bar Torches, 150 Loud Hailers, 700 Helmets and 1300 Gas Mask and 1,300 ropes to streamline traffic movements during day and night.

But more importantly, the traffic police department has asked for 25 Recovery vehicles with an objective to tow 'out of order' vehicles or streamlining traffic. Claiming that crore of pilgrims would be arriving Sangam city from far flung states of the country during Mahakumbh, traffic police need more recovery vehicles to clear the routes.

Suppose, if a small car or 10-tyres loaded truck all of a sudden goes out of order on route to Allahabad or near Sangam area, it would surely be disturbing the free flow of traffic and Recovery Van \ Cranes are immediately required to clear the routes.

DIG, Allahabad range, N. Raviendra" traffic police department will be equipped with all sorts of traffic equipments to streamline traffic during Mahakumbh'.

He added " with crores of people would be coming sangam through various modes, there would be special parking slots and adequate strength of traffic policemen would be managing traffic.

"As the crane services of traffic police department has already proved to be a hit affair to clear the routes, at least 25 recovery vans\ cranes both for heavy and light vehicles are required to manage the traffic free flow" said traffic inspector, IP Singh. It is expected that five temporary big parking slots would be set up.

Traffic police officials pointed out that "we currently have three cranes including two for heavy vehicles and one for lighter vehicles ( for cars and jeeps) and more recovery vehicles are needed to manage the traffic.

Secondly, adequate strength of traffic policemen including 11 traffic inspectors, 45 traffic sub-inspectors, 150 traffic head constables and 800 traffic constables would be deployed in and around sangam area to streamline traffic.

Not only this, all the 345 Swiss cottages (suite comprising drawing and bed room and properly constructed and tiled toilets) which are constructed by the state tourism department - Hotel Rahi Triveni Darshan are fully occupied. The cottages are raised along the road to Sangam. They are about two kilometres from the Kumbh Mela site. A person has to shell Rs 6,000 per day for a stay in this cottage and the cost includes fooding as well. "Queries are pouring in. My cell phone rings all the time and the e-mail inbox is almost flooded," admitted DP Singh, manager, UP Tourism Development Corporation hotels in Allahabad.

There is hardly any place left in private hotels as well. "The entire hotel is sold out during the Kumbh period. "We have bookings from NRIs particularly those living in US and UK. Scores of foreign media has also reserved suites and rooms," said Rajeev Shandilya, general manager of a four star luxury hotel in Allahabad. He added that his hotel was in the process of status upgradation as well keeping the Kumbh in mind. "We would very soon become a five-star hotel.

Tourism department officials said most of the hotels were preparing themselves to cash upon the mega event. "We have reports that most of the hotels in the luxury segment are full on main days and they will be solely occupied by the time Kumbh starts. The remaining have deliberately delayed their advance booking keeping in mind the benefits of last minute bookings," said RTO Srivastava. It may be noted that the Sangam city has 33 hotels in the luxury category, 60-70 hotels in the budget category and about 30 places in the other category that comprises dharamshalas and guest houses.

The tourism department is aware of the overwhelming response. And so, it has introduced the bed and breakfast scheme in the city. Under this scheme, owner of a house can enrol with the department to accommodate tourists. The owner has to ensure comfortable stay and breakfast to the tourist. This provides affordable accommodation to tourists and helps locals earn good money.

DIG (Allahabad Range) N Raviendra said: "We are not taking any chances elaborate security arrangements would be made for the security and safety of visitors and the entire sangam and adjoining areas would be turned into a fortress during the Mahakumbh. He added that a large posse of 30,000 policemen including para - paramilitary personnel \ commandos would be assigned specific duties to protect pilgrims and sangam area.

With a total of 10 crore pilgrims are expected to take a dip in the sangam during the entire mahakumbh, a tight security blueprint is being prepared by senior cops with adequate companies of paramilitary forces would be deployed for the same. Pointedly, Hindu devotees believe that during Mahakumbh, bathing in the sangam washes away people's sins, over 10 crore are projected to take a holy dip duringMahakumbh 2013.

While over 120 CCTV parties (personnel) would be keeping a strict eye on each and every visitor and these CCTV sets would be installed at strategic places. Security officials would be given binoculars and night vision devices to keep a close eye on all activities during the mega event. Similarly, tactical communicative equipments would also be taken for enhancing the security grill. 

The Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation ( UPSRTC) will run 4,500 buses in the state for Kumbh pilgrims. Besides, it will keep at least 500 buses in reserve for emergency.

The minister, however, told the officials that running of buses for Mahakumbh should not cause any inconvenience to local passengers.

The corporation could also run private vehicles on contract basis, said the minister. Trained drivers and conductors will be deployed on the Kumbh buses. Transport commissioner Alok Kumar said for the easy movement of devotees during Kumbh, five additional bus stations will be set up in Allahabad. The main mela bus station will be set up at Jhunsi. Acting on the directions of the minister, Kumar has directed the department to tackle the problem of fake driving licenses with an iron hand and cut down the role of touts. He has issued orders to all the officers in the department and RTOs to ensure that documents of DL applicants are thoroughly checked. The officers and employees checking the DL documents will have to write "checked" on every document. Besides, the officers and employees checking the documents will have to put the stamp of their names and designations on the documents.

The officers have also been instructed to take an envelope with a postal stamp from every applicant who applies for learning/permanent or for renewal of DL. The address on the envelope should be same as mentioned on the DL application form.

The officers will also have to ensure that DL is not directly given to the applicants or to any other person but delivered through registered post to the address of the applicant. The department will have to maintain the record of driving licenses. The transport minister also directed for the transfer of employees who have been posted for three years in one section of the department to another section.

In view of the Mahakumbh slated to be organized in the beginning of 2013, the North Central Railway has decided to provide facilities to passengers thronging Naini railway junction. This is an important station for trains going in the Central railway direction.

The railway administration has decided for opening up of about 38 booking counters and 6 enquiry counters at the Naini railway station anticipating huge number of pilgrims thronging this station during the Mahakumbh period. The booking counters would be opened at the city side of Naini junction and towards the Central Railway side.

At Naini, the mode of sale of second class ordinary tickets would be through UTS ( Unreserved Ticketing System). According to the plan, about three booking offices would be opened on the city side of Naini junction. The existing booking office number 1 would function as usual. Booking office number 2 would have five additional windows of UTS for sale of ordinary mela tickets for UP direction and 1 window for enquiry. Booking office number 3 would have additional 5 window of UTS for sale of second class ordinary mela tickets for the down direction and 1 window for enquiry. The exiting computerised passenger reservation centre situated at the Delhi end of platform number 1 will continue in its usual manner and reservation for all classes will be done from this place.

On the Central Railway side of the Naini junction, about four booking offices would be opened. This will deal with the traffic of central western railway, central railway, Western, North Western Railway, South eastern railway, South Central Railway, Southern Railway and Manikpur-Jhansi section In the booking office number 1 about 7 windows of UTS for the sale of second ordinary mela tickets for Naini-Manikpur section. Booking office number 2 would be opened in which about 7 windows of UTS would be opened for the sale of second class ordinary mela tickets for the trains going in Naini-Manikpur-Jhansi direction. In Booking office number 3, about seven windows of UTS counters would be opened for the sale of second class ordinary mela tickets for the trains going in Naini-Katni-Jabalpur section. Similarly, in booking office number 4 about seven counters would be opened for the sale of second class ordinary mela tickets for the trains going in Katni-Bina and Bilaspur section.

The railway authorities have planned that the exiting four hexagonal structure remodeled by making more spacious structure developed for accommodating 7 UTS equipments. The counter would be of L shaped with length of inside area of platform should not be less than 1.8 metres so that the equipment o the platform of booking window and chairs of counters may not clash with each other and creates hindrance in smooth disbursal of tickets. NCR chief public relation officer Sandeep Mathur said booking counters and enquiry counters are being opened for the facilities of passengers so that they do not face any problem while booking tickets. 

Source : 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

The Sangam city can hope for a cleaner Ganga and Yamuna from December. The three specially constituted teams of Uttar Pradesh Polution Control Board (UPPCB) will monitor the water quality of the Ganga, Yamuna and Pandu.

The monitoring will be done on weekly and daily basis and for the purpose the Board has identified 13 spots in Allahabad, Kaushambi and Fatehpur.

Apart from the construction of four new Sewage Treatment plant (STPs), expected to be functional by November this year, and treating the untreated sewage/polluted water before flowing into the Ganga and Yamuna, UPPCB will start the monitoring exercise from December first week.

Regional officer, UPPCB, Mohd Sikandar told TOI: "At Allahabad, daily monitoring will be done at five spots and other two spots would be taken on weekly basis. Besides, weekly monitoring would be done at two spots at Kaushamni and four spots at Fatehpur."

Sikandar added that the aim is to ensure clean water for the pilgrims during the Mahakumbh, and that's why the work will be completed before the start of mega event early next year.

Currently, the city has two functional STPs at Naini and Salori with total capacity of 109 million litres per day (MLD) as against the discharge of 232 MLD. As a result, a large quantity of untreated sewage water/municipal waste of the city is discharged into the Ganga and Yamuna, directly and indirectly.

Officials of the Ganga Pollution Control Unit said the capacity of Naini STP has been increased up to 80 MLD against 60 MLD. The four new STPs are coming up at Kodra (with capacity of 25MLD), Numhayadahi (50 MLD), Poghat (10 MLD) and Rajapur (60 MLD). Besides, Salori STP has a capacity of 29 MLD.

Sikandar said UPPCB is coordinating with the officials of the Ganga Pollution Control Unit. UPPCB has also identified 600 units which are polluting the rivers and asked them to either set up STPs or their units would be shut down during Mahakumbh.

Units have been told they would not be allowed to run between November and February if they fail to install STPs.

As per estimates, around 800 MLD of untreated sewage is directly discharged into the Ganga from at least 26 cities on the state located on the river banks. And, if the measures are not initiated, this figure may double by 2025.

The capacity of existing sewage treatment plants (STP) across the state is around 385 MLD and more STPs are required to check the situation. The Union government too had released funds last year to make the Ganga pollution-free.

In order to ascertain the exact headcount of the pilgrims visiting the Sangam area in Allahabad during the Mahakumbh, the Kumbh Mela administration is likely to avail the services of satellite imaging and draw a concrete picture. The technology was first used in 2010 during the Haridwar Mahakumbh to know the exact number of devotees visiting the mela site.

Officials feel that by doing so, the state government would be able to give a global flavour and colour to the mega event, which draws people from various walks of life both from India as well as abroad. Apart from this, helplines would be set up at strategic locations of the entire mela area to guide the visitors about topography, locations of various social and religious organisations and famous bhoole-bhatke shivirs (missing people camp/helpline).

Similarly, details of all organisations camping in the mela area would be displayed sector-wise, so that the devotees and visitors don't face any problem. Instructions have also been issued to construct fire-proof godowns storing materials for use during mela period. Authorities have also mooted a proposal utilising CFL and tube-lights in place of traditional bulbs. And, mela administration would also be setting up zero discharge toilets on both sides of river bank to maintain sanitation.

Divisional commissioner, Devesh Chaturvedi said, "We would be taking an undertaking from organisations and shopkeepers during the allotment of land that they would not be using polythene and articles made out of polythene. In the same regard, we would also be carrying out an awareness campaign among educational institutes and other places apprising them about the disadvantages of polythene." Chaturvedi further maintained that about 2,500 cusec of water would be released in river Ganga during the mega event and adequate water on the Shahi Snan days. Besides, sector markets would be set up at mela areas for the distribution of essential commodities like milk among kalpwasi and visitors.

He also claimed that all the projects regarding road widening, construction, beautification of crossing repair works, setting up of tubewells as well as power sub-stations, four pucca ghats and installation of high mast would be completed by December 2012.

This Mahakumbh, the mela will be spread in around 5911.890 acre and 26 agencies have been entrusted to complete the projects. Out of the estimated budget of Rs 574.10 crore, the state government has sanctioned Rs 383.01 crore. And, there is a provision of the third party inspection to ensure quality work of projects being undertaken for the Kumbh.

The Kumbh mela would be commencing from January 14, 2013. The first Shahi Snan would take place on Makar Sankranti. Similarly snans would take place on Paush Poornima (January 27, 2013), Mauni Amavasvya (February 10, 2013), Basant Panchami (February 15, 2013), Maghi Poornima (February 25, 2013) and Mahashivratri (March 10, 2013).

And, this Mahakumbh, the UP Pollution Control Board has too identified as many as 600 units and these units have been asked to activate their STPs or they would either shut down or their discharges would not be allowed to enter in river Ganga.

'Clean and Green' should be the buzzword for the Mahakumbh slated to be held in January next year and our topmost priority should be to undertake massive sapling plantation drive combined with effective garbage disposal and provision of clean toilets, said Swami Chidanand Saraswati of Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh while interacting with the media and people alike during the course of his daylong visit here on Wednesday.

Issuing a clarion call to make the Mahakumbh a memorable one, the Swami who is the moving spirit behind the clean Ganga campaign at the public level, said that after the failure of Ganga Action Plan (GAP) it is the turn of GAP-II (Ganga Action Pariwar) to fill the void. The slogan of this pariwar (family) is "no ninda and no chanda" which means no criticism and no donation and instead the focus should be keeping the holy river clean before the Mahakumbh-2013.

Stating that after the declaration of Ganga as the national river, work is on to compose the Ganga Anthem which would be completed before the Mahakumbh and released subsequently on any auspicious occasion, Swami Chidanand said "not only the government, society and saints should strive to make the Ganga clean but also the non-government organisations(NGO).People should give their time, talent and use the available technology at their disposal to make the river free from pollution on the occasion of Mahakumbh.

He informed that our efforts have bore fruit at places like Rishikesh where the level of pollution has come down drastically and now it is the turn of Allahabad. The daily Ganga Aarti at the ghats of Varanasi is the result of relentless efforts undertaken by Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh and the same practise can be started in Allahabad also if saints and locals make a combined effort.

With an aim to develop the Kumbh Mela area, eco-friendly, the Swami said that "We have submitted a proposal to the district authorities requesting sanctioning of a piece of land in Mela area which in turn would be developed as "Kumbh Smriti Van" where devotees coming across the globe would plant saplings. This would also go to a large extent in checking environmental pollution in the area".

Earlier inagurating a daylong workshop on " Clean and Green Mahakumbh" in the city on Wednesday, divisional commissioner, Devesh Chaturvedi said that by keeping the forthcoming Mahakumbh free from pollution we would set an example before the world.

The basic objective behind organising the workshop is to make the people aware about three things namely prohibition on the use of polythene in and around the city and secondly participation of the city in clean India campaign.Lastly we would strive towards organising a massive sapling plantation campaign.