Ujjain : No new demands were put up by the holymen of the akharas during the meeting and all of the akhara representatives of 13 akharas lauded the efforts of government over the Simhastha mela. Minister Bhupendra Singh, Chairman Central Simhastha Fair Organising Committee Makhan Singh, Chairman Simhastha Fair Authority Diwakar Natu, Principal Secretary Ravindra Pastor, ADG V Madhukumar, Mela officer Avinash Lavania, and DIG Rakesh Gupta were present in the meeting.
It was anticipated that the akharas under leadership of akhara Parishad chairman Narendra Giri could launch the demand of extra funds of Rs 2 crore for each of the akhara, but it only came out in whispers. The seers expressed happiness over the arrangements made in the akharas and demanded completion of the temporary works including that of kitchen, eatery, settlement tents and boundary wall. The issue of hanging allotment to Nirmohi akhara was also raised by Shri Mahant Rajendra Das and Parmatma Das, over which the minister assured action. President akhara Parishad Mahant Narendra Giri demanded speeding of remaining works of the akharas so that the arrangements could be made in time before Simhastha mela. He also demanded ambulance service, security and liasoning officer for the akharas.
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General Secretary of the Parishad Mahant Hari Giri raised the issue of construction works in the akharas. Hari Giri had long been demanding construction of huge building for the Juna akhara from the government, but till date has not got any concrete solution. Shri Mahant of Avahan Akhara Satya Giri demanded granting of necessary permission for the newly constructed building of the akharas from the municipal corporation, saying the corporation officers are not cooperating.
Mahant Mohan Das of Bada Udaseen akhara demanded reservation of mela land for future aspects saying the notification is necessary as the mela area is being encroached upon and shifted away from Kshipra banks. Representatives of all 13 akharas including Umashankar Bharti of Juna akhara, Ravindra Puri of Niranjani akhara, Mahant Govindanand of Agni Akhara, Kailash Bharti of Maha Nirvani akhara, Prem Giri of Atal akhara, Jagdish Giri of Anand Akhara, Shyamdas of Bada Udaseen akhara, Bhagatram of Naya Udaseen akhara, Gopal Singh of Nirmala akhara, Ayodhya Das of Nirmohi akhara, Ramkishore Das of Digambar akhara and Digvijay Das of Nirwani akhara were present in the meeting.
