Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat on Tuesday said there should be no comparison between Kumbh Mela in Haridwar and Nizamuddin Markaz as Markaz was held in a close space and attended by foreigners whereas Kumbh is being held in the open ghats of Ganga.

In an interview with Hindustan Times, the Chief Minister was replying to a question as to why the two religious events should not be compared as Kumbh also draws crowds and could strengthen the spread of coronavirus infections in the second wave.

Rawat said when the Markaz was held there was not much awareness about the corona and nor were there any protocols. But now there is more awareness about the virus and guidelines related to it, he said. He also said that Kumbh comes once in 12 years and is linked with the faith of millions of people. The government’s challenge and goal are to ensure that Covid protocols and the SOP are strictly followed, the CM added.

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He said there has been a huge surge in coronavirus infections but the recovery rate is good and guidelines issued by the health ministry have been followed. Arrangements are also adequate to deal with any situation, he added.

Largescale arrangements of masks and sanitisers have been made in the Mela area and the entire machinery is working day and night to ensure that the Covid guidelines are followed by everyone, the chief minister said.

People are being checked at the border points before being allowed to enter Haridwar and attend the Mela. There are also arrangements for the random testing of people, he said.

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