ALL ATTEMPTS to make the world famous Magh Mela free from power cuts have proved to be a flop causing inconvenience to Kalpavasis in the sandy banks of Sangam.
Sources said that tall claims made by the UP Government that no additional power cuts would take place in the city considering the Magh Mela has proved to be a damp-squib. Significantly, the Urban Housing Development Azam Khan who visited the city on Sunday had issued directives that uninterrupted power would be supplied in mela area.
To recall, the city has always been exempted from routine power cuts during the Magh Mela but the power rostering is continuing these days. Even the city was not free from power cuts on the first bathing festival, Makar Sankranti.
This had generated a strong resentment among the citizens who demanded of the State Government to free the city from power rostering on main bathing festivals like Mauni Amavasya, Basant Panchmi , Magh Purnima and Shivratri.
Swami Gyanananda, who is staying in Mela area, said that the entire Mela area should be totally free from power cuts so that religious programmes may be conducted smoothly. He opined the holy city should be left free from routine rostering.
Meanwhile Corporators Kamlesh Singh and Raju Shukla said the city should be free from power cuts at least during the annual Magh Mela . Both of them said that the city should have no power cuts like Lucknow.
The activists of Sitaram Dham Sewa Samiti said that Magh Mela area should be supplied uninterrupted power supply while morning rostering of the city should also be stopped in view of devotees coming from far off places for Magh Mela.
{{/usCountry}}The activists of Sitaram Dham Sewa Samiti said that Magh Mela area should be supplied uninterrupted power supply while morning rostering of the city should also be stopped in view of devotees coming from far off places for Magh Mela.
{{/usCountry}}Ram Kripal, vice president of Association urged the Governor to intervene in the matter.
Interestingly, despite the request made by Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation here to the government to free the city from power cuts during the Magh Mela, the government has not taken any decision so far although the first main bathing festival passed on January 14 while second important bathing festival is set to be held on January 29.
Meanwhile, apart from the scheduled power rostering between 10 am and 2 pm, additional power cut is taking place in every part of the city during evening as well as morning hours for the last several days.