Haridwar — A meeting of the Inter-State Coordination Committee was held on Friday at the CCR Auditorium in Haridwar under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan to ensure the upcoming Kanwar Mela is conducted in a smooth, safe, and well-organized manner. Senior officials from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan attended the meeting both online and offline.
Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan described the Kanwar Mela as a major festival of faith and devotion, calling upon the district administration, police, and concerned departments to make robust preparations. Emphasizing real-time data sharing and maximum use of modern technology, he said these experiences would also prove valuable for the upcoming Kumbh Mela. Detailed guidelines were issued for maintaining law and order, traffic regulation, and ensuring compliance with safety standards and approved rate lists at dhabas and hotels along the yatra routes.
Director General of Police Deepam Seth highlighted that each event brings its own challenges and underscored the importance of real-time information exchange and prompt joint rebuttal of any rumors. He directed officials to prominently display advisories on “dos and don’ts” along the travel routes.
Home Secretary Shailesh Bagauli stressed the need to ensure adequate facilities for pilgrims and maintain smooth traffic flow. District Magistrate Mayur Dixit and SSP Pramod Singh Dobal provided details on the duration of the Kanwar Yatra, estimated number of devotees arriving from various states, traffic management plans, and social media monitoring. Uttar Pradesh DIG Abhishek also reviewed preparations on behalf of his state.
The meeting decided that safety-related information will be shared in real time among all participating states, with strict social media monitoring and firm action against rumor-mongers. The height of Kanwars will be restricted to a maximum of 10 feet, and SOPs related to liquor and meat will be rigorously enforced. Notices will be served to DJ operators to ensure compliance with regulations. Additionally, Uttarakhand will keep Uttar Pradesh informed about parking availability on a regular basis.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from the five states, including IG Nilesh Anand Bharane, DIG Dhirendra Gunjyal, SSP Dehradun Ajay Singh, Fair Officer Sonika, among others.
