10-day Chintpurni Shravan Ashtami fair begins today

Our Correspondent

Una, August 2

The 10-day Shravan Ashtami fair will begin at the Chintpurni shrine from tomorrow. The district administration claims to have made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the fair, which attracts lakhs of devotees every year.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Kumar Maria, designated as the mela officer, said adequate availability of essential items like water, milk, food items and medicines were being ensured and officials of the electricity board had been directed to ensure an uninterrupted power supply.

Maria said putting up langars along the roadside and near the periphery of the temple was strictly prohibited, except with the permission of the temple administration. He said a complete ban on carrying and disposing polythene bags in public places had been imposed.

The Superintendent of Police (SP) Anupam Sharma said anticipating a great rush of devotees, CCTV cameras had been put up at several places to keep a tab on anti-social elements and check overcrowding. He said the temple and the surrounding premises had been divided into eight sectors, each under the control of a sector police office and a sector magistrate. About 1,000 police and Home Guard personnel had been deployed for security arrangements during the fair.

Anupam Sharma said the bomb squad, dog squad and tear gas squads had been positioned near the shrine for deployment in case of an eventuality. He said Additional Superintendent of Police Madal Lal Kaushal had been appointed as Mela Police Officer, who would remain at the shrine premises during the fair.