During the meeting, it was decided that the interstate buses and public transport services in the state will also remain prohibited. However, the essential services will remain operational, reported by ANI News.

One of the largest religious congregations in the world, ‘Maha Kumbh Mela’ preparations have been hampered with the deadly corona virus outbreak. So Haridwar is now set to host the Kumbh Mela next year starting March 11.

Kumbh Mela is held in every 12 years, at one of the four holy places in the country- Allahabad, Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain.

According to Hindu spirituality, in these four holy places the drops of elixir, that overflowed from the pot of nectar obtained during the Churning of the Ocean by the gods and the demons, got mixed with water of the rivers, thus sanctifying the streams of water there.

Devotees from all over India and abroad congregate at these places during the Kumbh Mela, to take dips of salvation in the holy water of Ganga. But this year workers are unable to carry forward the preparations due to the lockdown imposed by the Uttarakhand state government on Sunday, in a bid to arrest the spread of deadly corona virus.

During the meeting, it was decided that the interstate buses and public transport services in the state will also remain prohibited. However, the essential services will remain operational. The government has announced to deposit Rs 1,000 in the bank accounts of the registered labourers.

The Kumbh Mela administration, therefore, has asked the Uttar Pradesh government for a 10-day closure of the Ganga Canal, from March 22 to April 2, during which various works of the Mela will be expedited.

An annual closure of Gangnahar is done from Dussehra to Deepawali every year in Haridwar, during this time the work of maintenance of canals, dams and desilting work in the Ganga is undertaken by the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation department.

In January, this year, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had also highlighted that divine and grand Kumbh was not possible without the cleanliness of river Ganga.

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