From Our Correspondent
GUWAHATI: In view of the ensuing Ambubachi Mela, Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal held a review meeting to assess the preparations put into place for the successful celebrations of this annual socio-spiritual congregation.
The festival will be held during June 22 to 25, 2019. The meeting which was also attended by Tourism Minister Chandan Brahma had a threadbare discussion on several aspects of the Mela.
Sonowal directed all line departments and Kamrup Metroplitan district administration to put everything in place for the smooth conduct of the festival. Sonowal pointed out that since lakhs of devotees from across the country and outside would converge on Neelachal hill, the abode of Shaktipeeth Kamakhya, all arrangements including fool-proof security measures should be put into place for the convenience of the devotees.
He took stock of the transportation, drinking water, medical, electricity, cleanliness and observed that under no circumstances these facilities should be undermined.
He also directed all the departments to be on their toes to embrace 25 lakh devotees who will be coming to Kamakhya during the festival.
Highlighting the importance of Kamakhya Peeth as a centre of importance in the cultural-spiritual tourism circuit in the country, Chief Minister Sonowal requested all the core departments to put their head and heart to showcase the unique characteristics of Assam’s socio-cultural and spiritual tourism during the Mela.
He said, “Assam is known for its hospitality and age-old tradition of according highest respect to pilgrims and visitors and this year’s Ambubachi Mela will be no exception as the state keeping up its tradition on a constant high, will embrace lakhs of devotees during the five-day religious congregation”.
He also asked the departments to press in all essential and required facilities for the convenience of the pilgrims and asked the PHE department to ensure sufficient purified drinking water for the devotees who will be put up at make-shift camps in the city.
He also asked Guwahati Municipal Corporation to supply un-interrupted drinking water in Kamakhya temple during Ambubachi Mela.
Considering the expected huge footfalls of devotees including the specially challenged ones, Sonowal asked Assam State Transport Corporation to arrange sufficient fleet of buses for to and fro journey of the pilgrims.
He also asked Health and Family Welfare Department to ensure round the clock treatment facilities on the premises of Kamakhya Temple including setting up of temporary special cells for the treatment of babies and aged pilgrims.