January 7, 2012
State Minister to oversee Ganga Sagar arrangement, MPLADs to be utilized promptly, Chief Minister declares in two meetings
Kolkata, Jan 6: Trinamool-led Govt. has undertaken a foolproof arrangement to ensure a well-organized Ganga Sagar Mela with the direct supervision by several senior ministers.
"Already eight ministers in the state have visited the Ganga Sagar Mela site to ensure proper arrangement and security measures. Four of them will stay there with specific duties assigned to them", Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee told. South 24-Parganas District Magistrate of 24 Parganas (South)has already announced that nearly five lakh pilgrims, who are expected to come at Sagar Island for holy dip on Makar Sankranti day next week, would not have to pay pilgrimage tax. The government has developed logistics to ensure peaceful holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga and Bay of Bengal, about 100 kms south of Kolkata. A three-pronged elaborate security arrangement on land, water and sky were being undertaken to ensure safety and security of the pilgrims, assembled there from different states and neighboring countries. Adequate number of buses and vessels has already been arranged for transportation of the devotees, while the fare structure remained same like previous year. Besides, two extra vessels would be kept to meet the emergencies. Over 5000 security forces from BSF, Indian Coast Guard and state police would be deployed to ensure peaceful Ganga Sagar Mela, which would be closed formally on midnight.
In the evening, Chief Minister had a meeting with some of her party members in Rajya Sabha over utilization of the MPLAD fund in the state.
"I held a meeting with three Rajya Sabha members of my party regarding utilization of the MPLAD fund," she told.
The three MPs were Debabarata Bandyopadhyay, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy and Derek O' Brien. The meeting was a part of the Chief Minister's programme to intensify the state's development process with the funds available.
