UP govt's focus on digital & swachh Maha Kumbh, says chief secy in review meeting

Prayagraj: The state govt is focusing on showcasing the world's biggest religious congregation as a Swachh and digital Maha Kumbh. Chief secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, while holding the 15th meeting of the apex committee on Tuesday, said that measures are being initiated to showcase the 2025 Maha Kumbh as a digital and swachh Maha Kumbh, in line with the wishes of PM Narendra Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath.

There should be digital signage across the entire city as well as the Kumbh Mela area. Adequate sanitation arrangements, such as the availability of dustbins at every place, should be ensured, along with coordination between the cleaning staff and the garbage collection vehicles. The Chief secretary, mentioned that hectic preparations are underway to complete all mela projects by Dec 30. Moreover, the issue regarding night landing at the airport will be discussed with the central govt and will be resolved ahead of Maha Kumbh. Efforts are being made to operate as many flights as possible.

He also stated that Mela authorities set many records in the past for organising Kumbh, especially Swachh Kumbh . However, revolutionary changes have been introduced this time through innovation. This Maha Kumbh will be remarkable from the perspective of cleanliness and sanitation. Cleaning and its monitoring will be ensured by using technology. The disposal of solid waste management should be ensured. Wherever dustbins are to be installed, they should be coordinated with the cleaning worker, and the cleaning worker with the vehicle that picks up the waste. There should be a special team for cleaning.

He emphasised that drain water should not be discharged into the river. If necessary, specialised teams should be deployed, and the disposal of solid waste along with drains should be a priority. Moreover, Dona, Pattal, and Jute bags should be subsidised so that more people use them. Arrangements should be made to provide stalls in the mela area to those who make dona and pattal by hand. Under Paint My City, paintings should be put up by prominent artists on overbridges and ROBs.

More importantly, the Chief Secretary directed Mela official to talk to people individually and ensure action regarding the allotment of land.

Along with this, concerning the tent city being set up in the mela area, he said that the material given in the tents should be new. He mentioned that Digital Kumbh should be encouraged by every department. Most people do not use the app, so arrangements should be made to install digital signage and multilingual signage for them. After the roads are constructed, the riding quality should be better, and it should also be checked by a third party.

Mela Akhikari (Kumbh Mela) Vijay Kiran Anand also presented 10 proposals before the Chief Secretary, which received in-principle approval. This included two proposals each from the Public Works Department and C&DS, and one proposal each from the Municipal Corporation, Mela Authority, Tourism Department, Jal Nigam Urban, Information Department, and State Road Transport Department. Among these, projects worth Rs 2.35 crore for the Kumbh Conclave to be organised by Prayagraj Mela Authority in January, Rs 3.51 crore for setting up 55 premium tents in Parade Ground by the Tourism Department, and Rs 1.83 crore for road lighting from Daraganj Bakshi Dam Tiraha to Dashashwamedh Ghat were approved.

Apart from this, 5 lakh square feet of work will be done in Paint My City. Rs 3.92 crores will be spent on for furnishing in Amar Shaheed Chandrashekhar Azad Circuit House Rs 2.41 crores for the construction of a cement concrete road from Chhatnag Road in Jhunsi to 16 MLD and 50 KLD FSTP (Co-Treatment Plant) by Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam has been alloted. Rs 10 crores for installation of digital signage in Maha Kumbh, Rs 3.24 crores for CC road development in Bakshi Dam Vending Zone by C&Ds, and renovation of ICCC has been approved.