Saints express dissatisfaction with Kumbh Mela preparations

Saints attending the Kumbh Mela have expressed dissatisfaction with preparations made by officials here today.
Swami Ram Prapannacharya, Mahant of the Ram Janki Shri Hanuman Trust said, "Last year my trust requested collector's office to allot a 30,000 square feet plot, but we have been allocated a plot of 3,000 square feet, due to which we cannot even perform our basic rituals".
Almost 1,700 plots of about 300 square metres, 600 square metres and 1,000 metres have been developed in Sadhugram.
"Out of 1,700 plots developed, 1,400 plots are reserved for akhadas and affiliated bodies while rest 300 are open for allotment," a Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) official said adding that a fight is on for these 300 plots.

Applications for the plots started coming in from June last year and are still being received, he said.
However, he maintained that plots will be allotted on a priority basis to different charity and social, religious institutions.
NMC executive engineer and Sadhugram In-charge Gautam Pagare said that during the previous Kumbh Mela here in 2003, plots were built on 105 acres of land, while this year the NMC acquired additional lands from farmers on a requisition basis and hence the total Sadhugram area has been gone upto 325 acres.
He said that the budget of Rs 81 crore was spent on building temporary facilities like internal roads, electricity, water supply, drainage line, severage, toilets and bathroom structures, along with parking arrangements at Sadhugram.