The delay in the process of land allotment in the Magh Mela area has now begun to trouble saints and religious institutions.
Upset over the non-allotment of land for the camp of Uttarakhand-based Swami Krishnacharya, his successors on Monday began an indefinite hunger strike at the office of the Prayagraj Mela Authority.
The saints said they had been called on December 20 for the allotment of land, but despite this, no land was allotted.
They expressed concern that with only seven days remaining, it would be impossible to complete the necessary preparations for the camp.
Following the start of the hunger strike, administrative officials held discussions with the saints.
By evening, the matter was resolved, and land was immediately allotted on the spot. After this, the saints called off their hunger strike.
The problem of land allotment in the Mela area is being faced by almost all institutions this year. Swami Gopalacharya, successor of Swami Krishnacharya, said that for the past 30 Magh Melas, their institution had been allotted land on Mahavir Marg.
However, for the last two Magh Melas, land was provided on Triveni Marg. This year, the administration proposed allotting land on the blacktop road.
The Mela Authority had fixed December 20 as the date for allotment, but the land was not allotted even after that. Meanwhile, other institutions along the same route were given land.
Expressing his displeasure, Swami Gopalacharya said the Mela administration was making a mockery of the saints.
Thousands of Kalpvasis who come every year were continuously contacting them, asking when and where they should arrive, but no clear response had been given by the administration.
He stated that if the administration failed to find a solution, there would be no option left except an indefinite hunger strike.
After officials received information about the saints’ protest, talks were initiated in the presence of the Mela Officer. The land was allotted on the spot, following which the saints agreed to end their protest.
Leveling Work Completed on Khak Chowk Land
Prayagraj: The settlement of the Khak Chowk Vyavastha Samiti will now gain momentum.
Work will be carried out rapidly on the land along Mahavir Marg and Akshayvat Marg, where setting up camps was earlier not possible due to marshy conditions.
The Prayagraj Mela Authority had set December 21 as the deadline. There had been continuous disputes over the Khak Chowk land in the Mela area.
This year, due to five spells of flooding, the Akshayvat Marg area had turned marshy, making it difficult for many institutions to set up camps despite their willingness.
The issue even led to protests and demonstrations.
Mela Officer Rishiraj said that the leveling work has now been completed. “We had given December 21 as the deadline, and the work was completed by Monday morning.
People can now set up their camps. If anyone faces any difficulty, the Prayagraj Mela Authority will extend full cooperation,” he said.
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