Sonowal takes stock of preparedness for Ambubachi mela at Kamakhya Temple

Guwahati: Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal who also holds the home portfolio, visited the historic Kamakhya Temple on Saturday to oversee the preparedness for the forthcoming Ambubachi Mela starting on June 22 amid intelligence reports about militants plan to strike terror in Guwahati during the annual religious fair.

Sonowal asked commissioner of Police, Guwahati city Hiren Nath to ensure a fool-proof security arrangement in and around the Shakti Shrine during the fair. The Police Commissioner while apprising the chief minister about the security arrangement informed that there would be four police control rooms and some more sub-control rooms, fixed police pickets to maintain constant vigil on the areas in and around the Shakti Shrine and help the pilgrims. He also mentioned that 200 CCTV cameras would be installed at the important locations while fire and emergency services have been asked to keep their fleet ready to meet any exigencies.

Sonowal inspected the arrangements made for the pilgrims coming from different parts of India and abroad for the famous religious congregation at the holy Shakti Shrine. Sonowal asked the concerned officials to ensure all sorts of arrangements in respect of accommodation, drinking water and sanitation for the pilgrims.

Sonowal during the review meeting with civil and police officials, office bearers of Kamakhya Temple management committee said the State true to its rich tradition of according highest respect to visitors since ages would keep up the tradition on a constant high by welcoming the lakhs of pilgrims during the five-day Ambubachi Mela beginning June 22 which will end on June 26 when the doors of the temple would be reopened.

He directed the top functionaries of Public Health Engineering Department and Guwahati Municipal Corporation to make arrangements of pure drinking water and adequate number of toilets and bath rooms for the pilgrims who will be putting up at eight camps being erected at different areas of the city. He also stressed on the services of maximum number of safai karmis to ensure total cleanliness during and after Ambubachi Mela.

The health department was asked to to ensure medical facilities on 27X7 basis. The Managing Director Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) , Anand Prakash Tiwari was instructed to press into services a fleet of ASTC buses for the convenience of the devotees. The Assam Power Distribution Company Limited and the Public Works Department were asked to maintain uninterrupted power supply and keep power generators ready to ensure back up for any emergency power cuts.