All bandobast for Ambubachi over: DC

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, June 20: Kamrup (M) Deputy Commissioner M Angamuthu has said that the preparations for the Ambubachi Mela are over. He has also said that Nilachal Hill has been declared a tobacco-free zone during the mela and effort is on to make the area free from plastic as well.      

Talking to newsmen in the city today, the DC said: “The Ambubachi Mela has always been one of the major events in the eastern part of India. The Government of Assam has always ensured that this mammoth congregation of a million plus people is maged, supervised and monitored to make it a peaceful and hassle-free event for all.”

This year, according to the DC, a number of measures have been taken up by the district administration.

For accommodation and food, the DC said: “The number of camps for devotees has been raised to five this year from three last year. The camps are at Kamakhya Railway Station, Old Pandu Rilway Station, Soram HS School field, horbari and Bangshi Bagan. There is also a temporary shelter at Basistha Temple as the pilgrims do visit the ashram.”

The DC said:  “ADMs and EMs, along with officials from various departments, are desigted in each camp for smooth functioning of the camp activities. The Kamrup district administration has chalked out detailed plans for the smooth provision of all basic facilities like drinking water, shelter, toilets, bathrooms etc., at the desigted camps, including that of Kamakhya temple premises. In consonce with this, bhandaras have been allocated at specific locations within the camps for providing food as per instructed norms. Any deviation from the declared norms will automatically lead to cancellation of permission and the allocation of places for distribution of food items. This year the district administration has allocated as many as 19 bhandaras in different camps. There are five bhandaras at Soram Field, two at Old Pandu Railway Station, one at Kamakhya Railway Station, three at horbari and two at Bongshi Bagan. Apart from the desigted camps, bhandáras will also be providing food in some other places like Dwarpad Ganesh Mandir, Bhootth, Near Swagat Hospital and Kamakhya Garage.”

On transportation, the DC said: “Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) will provide 80 new star ultra buses to carry pilgrims up to Kamakhya Dham during the mela with effect from June 21 to 26, 2016 every day from different pilgrim camps. Twenty-three ASTC buses will ply from Soram HS School to Kamakhya Temple and back from 6 am to 1 am mid-night, 23 buses from Pandu Old Railway Station to Kamakhya Temple and back from 6 am to 1 am mid-night, 24 buses from Kamakhya Railway Station at Maligaon to Kamakhya Temple and back from 6 am to 1 am mid-night, ten buses from Kamakhya Foot Hill to Kamakhya Temple and back from 6 am to 1 am mid-night and 20 connectivity paid service from Basistha Mandir to Kamakhya foot hill from 6 am to 9 pm.”

On power supply, the DC said: “The APDCL has been entrusted to ensure uninterrupted power supply in the mela. Officers have been deputed round the clock.”

On cleanliness and maintence, the DC said: “GMC has deputed engineers, ASIs, supervisors for proper cleanliness and hygiene in the camps as well as the temple. A GMC control room has been set up on Nilachal Hill 24X7.”

“A total of 12 food security officers and 12 chemists have been deployed. Doctors and paramedics are deputed in each camp round the clock to attend to health issues of the devotees. As many as 600 beds have been booked in various hospitals in the city for emergency cases,” the DC said, and added: “The PHE has constructed toilets and bathrooms at various locations for the devotees. There are 100 toilets for gents, 70 for ladies, 25 bathrooms for gents and 25 for ladies at Kamakhya Temple; 50 toilets for gents, 50 for ladies, 25 bathrooms for gents and 25 for ladies at Kamakhya Railway Station; 60 toilets for gents, 40 toilets for ladies, 25 bathrooms for gents and 25 bathrooms for ladies at Soram HS school field; 50 toilets for gents, 40 toilets for ladies, 25 bathrooms for gents and 25 bathrooms for ladies at Pandu Old Railway Station; 45 toilets for gents, 30 toilets for ladies, eight bathrooms for gents and seven bathrooms for ladies at horbari; 32 toilets for gents, 24 toilets for ladies, five bathrooms for gents and five bathrooms for ladies at Bhubaneswari; 22 toilets for gents, ten toilets for ladies, ten bathrooms for gents and five bathrooms for ladies are at Kamakhya High School, and 20 toilets for gents, 15 toilets for ladies, ten bathrooms for gents and five bathrooms for ladies at Bangshi Bagan.”

According to the DC, each camp has been provided with 210 volunteers and 300 volunteers have been deployed in the temple. This apart, control rooms have been set up in the city.

Meanwhile, Guwahati Police Commissioner in-charge Anil Kumar  Jha gave a detailed account on the security bandobast for the mela.

Jha said: “Adequate security personnel, including a large number of lady constables, will be deployed during the mela. As many as 300 CCTVs have been installed at the camps and in the temple premises for the security of the devotees.”