Sonowal reviews Ambubachi preparations

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, June 10: Chief Minister SarbandaSonowal has visited Kamakhya Temple to review the preparedness for the Ambubachi Mela, starting on June 22.

The Chief Minister today inspected the arrangements made for the pilgrims coming from different parts of the country and abroad for the famous Mela at the holy Shakti Shrine. Sonowal asked senior officials to ensure all sorts of arrangements in respect of accommodation, drinking water and sanitation for pilgrims. Sonowal 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 Mela. The Mela will termite on June 26 when the doors of the Temple will reopen.

The Chief Minister appealed to the people as well as the pilgrims flocking to the temple and its peripheral areas to maintain cleanliness in the true spirit of ‘Swacch Bharat Mission’. He directed the top functiories of Chief Engineer of Public Health Engineering Department and Guwahati Municipal Corporation to make arrangements of pure drinking water and adequate number of toilets and bathrooms for the pilgrims who will be putting up at eight camps being erected at different areas of the city. He also stressed the services of maximum number of safaikarmis to ensure total cleanliness during and after Ambubachi Mela.

Sonowal also asked Commissioner of Police, Guwahati city Hiren th to ensure a foolproof security apparatus in and around the Shakti Shrine. The Police Commissioner while apprising the Chief Minister of the security apparatus that would be put in place said that there would be control rooms, 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 there would be closed-circuit cameras at the important locations and fire and emergency services have been asked to keep their fleet ready to meet any exigencies.

Chief Minister Sonowal also asked Health Department to ensure medical facilities on 27X7 basis. He also directed ASTC Maging Director And Prakash Tiwari to press into services the fleet of ASTC buses for the convenience of the devotees. The Chief Minister also asked ASEB and PWD for uninterrupted power supply and keeping generator ready to ensure back-up for any emergency power cuts. Sonowal also mooted the idea of giving token gifts symbolizing the unique idiosyncrasies of beauty and spirituality of Kamakhya Temple and Ambubachi Mela to the devotees.

Earlier, Chief Minister Sonowal offered puja and paid obeisance to Goddess Kamakhya for peace, prosperity and amity in the State.

Member of Parliament Pradan Barua, Chairman, Assam Tourism Development Corporation Limited Jayanta MallaBaruah, Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia, Additiol DGP Kuladhar Saikia, Commissioner and Secretary, Tourism, RC Jain, Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (Metro), Dr. M. Angamathu, and other senior officials were present at the meeting.