Minister Kaushik Rai leads efforts to ensure a grand & safe Bhuban Mela

Way2barak, February 15 : The preparatory meeting for Bhuban Mela 2025, a major cultural and religious event, took place at the new conference hall of the District Commissioner’s office on Saturday. The meeting was chaired by Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, Mines and Minerals, and Barak Valley Development, Kaushik Rai, who emphasized meticulous planning and seamless execution to ensure a successful and secure event. In his address, Minister Kaushik Rai underlined the cultural and spiritual significance of Bhuban Mela, which attracts thousands of devotees from across the region. Stressing the importance of coordinated efforts, he urged all stakeholders to work together to guarantee a safe and smooth experience for visitors. He placed special focus on infrastructure readiness, ensuring that roadways, sanitation, water supply, and other essential services are prepared well in advance.

The meeting included detailed discussions on improving road connectivity to the mela grounds, particularly from the Krishnapur and Motinagar sides. To address this, funds for road repairs were announced, with responsibilities divided between the mela committees and the Forest Department. The Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department was tasked with managing water supply during the event, with local mela committee members assisting in distribution to ensure smooth access to drinking water for devotees. To promote hygiene and convenience, 100 temporary public toilets will be installed across different zones of the mela area. Additionally, rest tents will be set up for pilgrims to recuperate during their journey. The district administration has also pledged to regulate public transportation fares, ensuring affordability for all visitors and preventing overcharging.

Medical preparedness is a key priority, with multiple teams of health staff and fully equipped ambulances stationed at different zones of the mela grounds. The teams will carry sufficient medicines, and 108 ambulance services will be available round-the-clock for emergencies. Primary healthcare centers (PHCs) and mini-primary healthcare centers (MPHCs) at Sonai, Dholai, Palonghat, and Kochudorom have been directed to maintain 24-hour readiness for emergency patients. The Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) will manage electricity supply throughout the mela, supported by ten backup generators to ensure uninterrupted power during the event.

Security arrangements are being strengthened with the involvement of multiple agencies. The law and order responsibilities will be jointly managed by CDC and CDSD Lakhipur, Lakhipur police station, and police units from Kochudorom, Dholai, and Sonai. Additionally, the Circle Officer has been instructed to coordinate with law enforcement agencies to maintain peace and order across the mela premises. A detailed traffic management plan, presented by DSP, Hamen Das, aims to control the large influx of vehicles and ensure smooth movement along all routes leading to the mela grounds.

The administration has announced that the next circle-level review meeting will take place on 19th February. The formal inauguration of the Bhuban Mela gates on both the Motinagar and Krishnapur sides has been scheduled for 25th February 2025. Before the grand opening, a comprehensive site inspection will be conducted by a delegation comprising DC Mridul Yadav, Additional District Commissioner Yuvraj Borthakur, Additional District Commissioner Antara Sen, Dholai MLA Nihar Ranjan Das, BJP district president, police officials, APDCL officers, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), and members of both mela committees. This visit aims to ensure that all preparations are progressing according to plan and meet the highest safety and convenience standards.

The District Commissioner of Cachar, Mridul Yadav, concluded the meeting by emphasizing public safety as the topmost priority. He announced the administration’s commitment to achieving “Zero accident with Zero Death” at Bhuban Mela 2025 and urged every department to enforce strict safety protocols to protect devotees and visitors. The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) will also be fully involved in overseeing safety operations within the mela premises. DDMA teams will operate in shifts, with an eight-hour duty roster to be published soon. The meeting concluded with a strong collective pledge from all stakeholders to deliver a safe, smooth, and spiritually rewarding experience for all devotees attending Bhuban Mela 2025.