The State Government has geared up for the preparations of country’s mega religious congregation Kumbh Mela that falls at a regular interval of twelve years. In anticipation of a never-before influx of pilgrims, the State Government would not only overhaul the previous Narmada-Kshipra river linking project but also clean Kshipra river waters. There is a plan to spruce up either banks of the holy-yet-polluted river, which once pronounced almost dead before it could be given a fresh lease of life through the river linking project before 2016 Kumbh Mela. Speaking to ‘The Hitavada’ at the sidelines of the press conference organised here on Saturday, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said, “Lakhs of devotees come to take a holy a dip in the Kshipra river during a fortnight-long Simhastha.

 

Although Kshipra is a perennial river, it snakes through some industrial and residential sites of Indore city. And reports have surfaced that sewage water and other industrial pollutants make it murkier. We are planning that no such pollutants trickle in the river and it remains the main artery of the temple town of Ujjain and cleaner for pilgrims of Simhastha.”

 

He further said, “Our Government has accorded it a top priority well before the holy congregation takes place in 2028. Although it is not clear how the debt-ridden State Government will arrange funds for the ambitious project, insiders in the government have said that the Government has placed a demand of a whopping amount of Rs 600 crore for the purpose and have received an in-principle approval. The insiders also said that the project to clean Kshipra will be monitored by a high-level committee and experts of the field. The project also envisages constructing stop dams to divert pollutants.