Maha Kumbh declared a temporary new district with 66 villages, 4 tehsils

FOR BETTER management of Maha Kumbh Mela that is scheduled to begin next month, the Uttar Pradesh government has notified the Kumbh Mela area as the 76th district of the state for a duration of four months. Officials said on Tuesday that over 5,000 hectares would come under this district. Around 66 revenue villages, part of four tehsils, would be part of this temporary district, they added.

The Maha Kumbh, which will take place after a gap of 12 years, will start from January 13. Officials said a notification giving the area the status of a separate district was issued on December 1. As the preparations for the Maha Kumbh, which is expecting the biggest footfall of lakhs of pilgrims this year, are in full swing, sources said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to be in Prayagraj

on December 13 to inaugurate and lay foundation stone of projects and also review the preparations.

“Both magistrates and police would get powers for crime prevention and administration. There would be Mela District Magistrate as well as a Senior Superintendent of Police,” informed Vijay Kiran Anand, Kumbh Mela Adhikari, who would act as District Magistrate of the Maha Kumbh Mela area.

“This [giving status of a temporary district] was done last year as well.The area is far bigger this time,” said Anand.