Maghi Mela: Nod given, but site not finalised

Will provide security, drinking water: Muktsar DC

IGP reviews security arrangements

• After Pathankot terrorist attack and reports that some Sikh hardliner groups may hold a conference on January 14 here, the police have made special security arrangements this year.
• JK Jain, IGP, Bathinda zone, held adetailed meeting regarding security arrangements with all senior police officers of the zone here on Wednesday.

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, January 6

The district administration has charged Rs 29 lakh from the Maghi Mela organising company just to give permission to hold it. It will not even provide a site to hold the mela. The company will take the land on lease, install swings, circus, etc, and pay workers on its own. However, the amount of Rs 29 lakh would go to the District Red Cross Society, which is headed by the Deputy Commissioner.

The tendering process to hold the mela was done today at the Deputy Commissioner’s office here. As many as six companies had participated in it after depositing Rs 5 lakh as security amount and the tender was allotted to a local company.

The locals here said charging such a huge amount from the mela organiser would prove to be a burden on the pockets of those who would see the fair. “Had the administration charged some justifiable amount on the name of entertainment tax, the mela organising company would have given free access to those coming to see the fair. Now the company would not only charge entry fee but also hike tickets of swings, circus and food items,” said Gurdeep Singh, a local.

Some people had even brought this issue to the notice of the district administration that the mela be allowed to hold at minimal charges, so that the public has to pay less for enjoying it.

Jaskiran Singh, Deputy Commissioner-cum-chairman of the District Red Cross Society, Muktsar, said, “We did not force anyone to pay the money to hold the mela. The permission was allotted through the tendering system, which is not a new thing. This is just like entertainment tax.” The Deputy Commissioner said, “We will provide security at the mela site and arrangements of potable water for public.”

However, a former secretary of the District Red Cross Society, said, “The fee should not be such a hefty amount and that too to hold the mela on a religious occasion.”

Till the filing of this report, the site of mela could not be finalised. Sources said some politicians were trying to shift the mela from its previous location on the Malout road in the town to some other place close to their rally ground to attract more people for their rally.

Courtesy: The Tribune