Bill tabled for establishment of Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority

The Maharashtra government on Monday tabled a bill seeking to establish the NashikTrimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority for the mega congregation set to begin on October 31 next yearThe bill which was tabled in the assembly on the first day of the monsoon session provides for the establishment of an Authority for the organisation and management of the Kumbh Mela and allied activities in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar as well as other areas in the vicinityAn ordinance on the Authority was promulgated on June 4 this year after it was approved by the Devendra Fadnavis cabinetAs per the bill the 22member Authority will be headed by the Nashik division commissioner and will also include Nashik collector and Nashik Range inspector general of police as vice chairpersonsThe chairperson will have powers to direct government departments and other authorities to requisition services facilities premises vehicles etc for the Kumbh MelaA committee of ministers will also be set up to review the work of the Authority from time to timeThe Simhastha Kumbh Mela will begin on October 31 next year with Dhwajarohan flag hoisting at Trimbakeshwar and Ramkund in Nashik The flag will be taken down on July 24 2028 marking the conclusion of the mega event held once every 12 yearsSeveral crore pilgrims are expected to attendMaharashtra govt tables supplementary demands of Rs 57509 cr in assemblyMeanwhile the Maharashtra government tabled supplementary demands of Rs 5750971 crore in the state legislative assembly on Monday to allocate funds for various schemes and projectsMaharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar who is also the state finance and planning minister presented these demands on the first day of the threeweek monsoon sessionSupplementary demands are additional funds sought by the government over budgetary allocationsThe government has primarily allocated these funds for infrastructure projects such as roads metro rail and irrigation schemes as well as for planning and execution of the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh MelaThe demands include Rs 1600 crore for the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Health Scheme Rs 1500 crore for the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Destitute Grant Scheme scholarships for students from the backward classes and overall development of socially and economically weaker sectionsThe largest allocation Rs 1104276 crore has been earmarked for grants recommended by the 15th Finance Commission and it has also made a provision of Rs 6952 crore for public healthAdditionally Rs 322838 crore has been provisioned for refunds related to stamp duty surcharge to metro projects municipal corporations municipal councils and Zilla ParishadsThe government has allocated Rs 1000 cr for the planning and execution of the Simhastha Kumbh MelaOf the total supplementary demands Rs 1918385 crore was for mandatory expenditures Rs 3466134 crore for planned schemes and Rs 366452 crore for centrallysponsored schemesThough the gross demand amounts to Rs 5750971 crore the net financial impact on the state exchequer is Rs 4064469 crore Pawar saidThe government has made a provision of Rs 218269 crore as margin money loans to cooperative sugar factories under assistance from the National Cooperative Development Corporation NCDCWith inputs from PTI