Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat today expressed hope that the Centre will soon release funds to streamline arrangements for the ongoing Ardhkumbh mela.
Talking to reporters here after inaugurating a media centre equipped with modern facilities in the mela area and two newly built bridges on the Ganga, Rawat said though no financial assistance has so far been allocated by the Centre for Ardhkumbh arrangements, he hoped funds will be released soon for the four-month event.
Rawat has already sought a one time assistance of Rs 500 crore from the Centre for Ardhakumbh.
Works of permanent nature need to be taken up in the mela area not just for the ongoing Ardhakumbh but also for better arrangements to be put in place in view of forthcoming Kumbh.
However, for the time, the state government has already released Rs 375 crore out of its own resources for the purpose, Rawat said.
He also expressed satisfaction at the arrangements made for devotees coming from across the country and abroad for the religious congregation on the banks of the Ganga in Haridwar.
