Panel's decision final on Shahi Marg issue: Shinde

NASHIK: Minister of state for home (rural) Ram Shinde on Thursday said that the reservations or apprehensions raised by any of the departments over the finalization of the alternative Shahi Marg by district guardian minister Girish Mahajan on January 8 in a joint meeting with the district Kumbh Mela committee and the sadhus would be discussed by the panel.
Shinde was reacting to the displeasure expressed by the city police over the new Shahi Marg. The police have claimed that the hazard analysis of the new route performed by the department has raised many issues including the steep slope on the new route near the Gadge Maharaj bridge and the fear of mixing of the crowd with the sadhus at Gauri Patangan on the banks of the river, which will affect the smooth movement of the pilgrims.
"The new route which was finalised in the presence of the district guardian minister will be adhered to. However, if there are objections from any department, they will be considered by the district level committee and the decision of whether to change the route or not will be taken by the panel alone," Shinde said.
The minister was on day-long tour to Nashik when he reviewed the Kumbh preparations in Trimbakeshwar. When questioned about the dispute between the district administration and the police department over the new Shahi Marg, the minister said the decision of the committee would prevail irrespective of the reservations voiced by the individual departments.
"There was no dispute between any of the departments. The decision of the committee on the issues related to the hazard analysis would prevail on all stake holders," the minister said.
Shinde pointed out that the responsibility of execution of works for safe passage of the Kumbh mela and the safety and security of the pilgrims was of utmost priority and would be carried out without any hitch with every department owning up the responsibility of the works falling in their respective jurisdiction.
Collector Vilas Patil later said the committee was open to any new plan suggested by any agency, provided they were executable. "There are chances that the government agencies may have some more plans as an alternative to the traditional Shahi Marg as stressed upon by the Ramani report that enquired into the death of 29 people in the Kumbh mela 2003-04. The use of the Shahi Marg constructed along the banks of the river is out of question as it has been out rightly rejected by the sadhus. If objections to the latest new route planned by the committee are raised, efforts would be taken to resolve them. If there is a more suitable alternative, it could be imbibed," Patil said.
The latest Shahi Marg starts from Sadhugram in Tapovan and reaches the Katya Maruti chowk through the Panchamukhi Hanuman Mandir on the traditional route. The marg dissociates itself from the traditional route at this point and takes a left turn to head to the river banks through Devi Chowk and Ganeshwadi Road, besides the Ayurved College and joins the Shahi Marg constructed in 2002 below the Gadge Maharaj Bridge. It then heads to Kapaleshwar Mandir and finally ends at the Ramkund.
As the sadhus move toward the river Godavari by the road, it approaches a descent on the Marg and then the path turns to the right before reaching Ram Kund. This is the place where it is likely that stampede could occur. Also at the very same place (which is Gauri Patangan) it is likely that the crowd coming from the opposite bank may try to come near the sadhus. This police apprehend it to be a difficult situation.
(None of the police official is coming on records)