Ujjain : Half-hearted efforts and delay in decisions by the State government have almost pushed the much needed preparations of Simhastha Fair-2016 on to back foot. Dilemma over publication of Simhastha Master Plan, notification with regard to Simhastha Fair area and posting of efficient and experienced officers have given signals to the people that the required arrangements for the mega international event will be made at the eleventh hour.
Preparations for Simhastha Fair-2016 were launched well in advance as compared to Simhastha Fair-2004. But non-publication of Master Plan has facilitated some senior IAS officials, engineers, influential peoples’ representatives and interested groups to do whatever they want. Construction of ghats on the banks of river Kshipra, railway over-bridges, road widening, concrete roads, etc can be cited as examples of their willfulness. So far, over 50 meetings of stakeholders have been organised in Ujjain and Bhopal to finalise the master plan. Despite setting the deadlines, no plan has been made public. Mockery of the situation is that former chief minister Babulal Gaur, who happened to be the urban administration and development minister during 2008-2013, became home minister after the Assembly elections, but could not publish the plan as yet.
Fortunately, Kailash Vijayavargiya, who was the incharge of Simhastha Fair-2004 and also of Ujjain district since then, is now looking after the affairs of urban administration and development department. He has presided over several meetings, but the notification of Simhastha Fair area is yet not made. This process was accomplished about three years ago during the previous fair. Most ironically, a high power committee, headed by the chief secretary, has disinvested the Ujjain Municipal Corporation for many key works and handed over them to the public works department. The Ujjain Municipal Corporation, which is a part of urban administration and development department, use to host the Simhastha Fair. BJP is governing the corporation and its representatives and so also the local MPs and MLAs have demanded to include works having long utility, but to no avail.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan has claimed that the State government has sanctioned works costing Rs 905 crore for the ensuing event. According to him, a detailed plan to spend Rs 3500 crore for the success of the fair has been prepared. He has sought a special grant from the Narendra Modi-led NDA government for making different arrangements. The reality at ground level is contrast to the claims of the Chief Minister. Though, a deadline of December 31, 2015 has been set for the completion of all works, everybody here knows that certificate of completion will be issued for unfinished works. Only 12 working months have been left to finish the ongoing works and if government has planned to spend Rs 3500 crore for Simhastha 2016, it would have to reserve its funds till Simhastha Fair-2028. This fact looks like a gossip, but authorities know about its gravity well.
Confusion over the posting of officers on plum posts has also created hurdles in execution of the works. For more than nine months, the post of divisional commissioner is practically lying vacant. Commissioner is the head of the high power committee and oversees the overall preparations. Three officers were posted on this post during this period, but they treated it as an ad hoc job.
Shiv Shekhar Shukla, who was made commissioner in April, took leave for one month in two parts and presently also he is on leave. Those officers who do not want to continue in Ujjain, were optimistic that they will get new postings after June 15, but the row over Professional Board of Education Scam and Assembly session have diminished their plans. It is learnt that the government has indicated to change the postings of divisional commissioner, collector, municipal commissioner, IG and SP and in this process the fair office may also see a new officer.
