Works on bridge and 'yajnashala' in Tirunavaya for Kerala Kumbh Mela halted: Here's why
Organisers had apparently submitted applications for the necessary permissions to various departments in the first week of November and had also directly contacted the District Collector.
Organisers had apparently submitted applications for the necessary permissions to various departments in the first week of November and had also directly contacted the District Collector.
Organisers had apparently submitted applications for the necessary permissions to various departments in the first week of November and had also directly contacted the District Collector.
The Revenue Department has issued a notice halting construction of the temporary bridge and the Yajnashala (main venue) being set up at Kerala's Tirunavaya in Malappuram for the Kerala Kumbh Mela. On Tuesday, a team of revenue officials, accompanied by police, arrived at the site while work was in progress and instructed the construction workers to stop.
The temporary bridge, being built near Tavanoor to connect the Navamukunda Temple in Tirunavaya, was already around 70 per cent complete. Organisers had apparently submitted applications for the necessary permissions to various departments in the first week of November and had also directly contacted the District Collector.
Over the past two weeks, earth-moving machinery has been deployed to clear bushes on the dry riverbed as construction progressed. However, officials from the Tirunavaya village office arrived on January 8 with a notice directing an immediate halt to the works. Since no one was present to receive it, the village officer personally delivered the notice the following day. Although the machinery was removed from the river, bridge construction had continued until it was officially stopped yesterday.
Organisers yet to seek permission, says Collector
Collector V R Vinod stated that the organisers of the Kerala Kumbh Mela had not obtained the required permissions to carry out construction in the Bharathapuzha river. “Carrying out construction in the river requires official approval,” he said.
The Kerala Kumbh Mela is to be held in Tirunavaya for the first time and is expected to attract thousands of visitors. In this context, explicit planning by the state government is essential. “With such large crowds, a precise disaster management plan is required. There must be arrangements for visitor numbers, accommodation, basic necessities, and safety measures. None of these steps has been undertaken so far,” the Collector added.