CM Yogi Adityanath: Officials Must Be on the Ground, No Devotee Should Face Inconvenience
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath chaired a high-level review meeting via video conferencing with senior officials of concerned districts to assess security and administrative arrangements for upcoming festivals and the Magh Mela. The Chief Minister made it clear that the safety, convenience and smooth conduct of religious events are the state government’s highest priority and that negligence at any level will not be tolerated.
Issuing directives to officials of Prayagraj, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Chitrakoot, Hapur (Garhmukteshwar), Mathura–Vrindavan, Farrukhabad, Shahjahanpur and other Magh Mela-linked districts, the CM stressed the need to ensure smooth movement of devotees, cleanliness at ghats and temple premises, uninterrupted power supply, women’s changing rooms, control rooms, effective crowd management and hassle-free entry and exit in mela areas. He said that no situation of disorder should arise and devotees must be able to perform rituals in a safe and orderly environment.
In view of the expected arrival of 15 to 25 lakh devotees in Prayagraj on Paush Purnima, the Chief Minister directed officials to significantly strengthen health services. Adequate arrangements for hospitals, medical staff, ambulances, clean toilets, drinking water and women-centric facilities were ordered. He also instructed that sufficient divers be deployed at ghats to respond promptly to any emergency.
Placing women’s safety at the top of the agenda, the CM ordered strict action against suspicious and unruly elements in mela areas and public places to ensure that no woman devotee faces fear or inconvenience.
Considering the severe cold wave, the Chief Minister directed officials to ensure sufficient night shelters, bonfires and enhanced lighting at railway stations, bus stands and public places, asserting that no one should be forced to sleep in the open. He also asked officials to increase police patrolling and ensure that the needy are guided to shelters.
The Chief Minister instructed all senior officers to conduct on-ground inspections of mela sites the same night and issue clear directions to subordinate staff to ensure all arrangements are in place. He also ordered barricading in areas with strong river currents or depth, and warned against overcharging by boat operators or hotels, directing officers to personally monitor the situation in the field.
Reiterating a zero-tolerance approach to law and order, CM Yogi ordered strict action against elements spreading disorder or attempting to pressure the administration. He also asked all districts to prepare a detailed flood prevention action plan within 10 days.
Additionally, the Chief Minister directed strict action against land mafias, improved grievance redressal through regular district-level public hearings, identification of land for permanent helipads near key administrative centres, and removal of illegal taxi stands, bus stands and vendors to ease traffic congestion.
Concluding the meeting, CM Yogi called upon all departments to work in close coordination and at a war footing to ensure peace, safety and orderly conduct during festivals and the Magh Mela across Uttar Pradesh.
