With the Ardhakumbh fair all set to begin next month, Uttarakhand government has written to the Centre seeking a one-time assistance of Rs 500 crore from the latter for the smooth conduct of the event which sees a vast gathering of people on the banks of the Ganga in Haridwar.
In a letter to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley yesterday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat said the event is likely to be attended by 7-8 crore people and the state government is making all efforts to ensure that it passes off smoothly.
The state government is focusing on developing basic infrastructure of permanent nature in the mela area this time.
Also Read
Projects worth Rs 500 crore have been prepared in view of the event out of which Rs 400 will be required for works of permanent nature and the rest for developing public amenities of impermanent nature, Rawat said in his letter to Jaitley.
Rawat urged the Union Minister to allocate the amount as one-time assistance to the state at the earliest in view of the proximity of the event as meeting the expenses out of its own limited resources will be cumbersome for the state government.
The Chief Minister also reminded Jaitley that the Niti Ayog had recommended sanction of Rs 166.67 crore to Uttarakhand for this purpose but the amount is yet to be released.
