Kolkata

The West Bengal government will provide financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to 60 Rath Yatra committees across the state ahead of this year's car festival on July 16, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Monday.

He said the initiative was aimed at preserving the state's religious heritage.

"So many Rath Yatra celebrations are organised in the city every year. Earlier, the state government's role during Rath Yatra was largely confined to deploying a few traffic police personnel. Our government has decided to participate actively in this year's Rath Yatra, guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi'. The government has decided to provide a grant of Rs 5 lakh each to 60 prestigious Rath Yatra committees. We will also set up 'seva kendra' (service centres) at 75 traditional Rath Yatra fairs across the state to help the pilgrims visiting these places," Adhikari said.

The 'seva kendras' would provide essential assistance to devotees visiting the fairs during the festival, he said.

Acknowledging that the beneficiary list had been prepared for the first time, he appealed for understanding if any deserving committee had been left out.

"If there are any mistakes in the list this year, I request everyone to view them with a forgiving attitude. We will prepare a flawless list in the coming years. This initiative will only grow. The sapling planted today will become a mighty tree tomorrow and eventually become a tradition," he said.

The CM was addressing a coordination meeting at the state secretariat to review preparations for the annual Rath Yatra.

Adhikari also announced a series of measures for devotees during the upcoming Shravan Mela.

"The government is setting up 'seva kendras' at every five kilometres from Sheoraphuli to Tarakeswar. The 'seva kendras' will also be set up at fixed intervals along the routes during the Shravan Mela so that people carrying holy water on their shoulders can avail themselves of necessary services whenever required," he said.

"We are undertaking development works worth Rs 15 crore at Tarakeswar Dham," he said.

Monday's coordination meeting was convened to review arrangements ahead of the Rath Yatra, which will be observed on July 16.

He said the government had selected three major pilgrimage centres, Tarakeswar, Jalpesh temple in Jalpaiguri district and a temple in the Jayanti area near the Bhutan border, where special facilities would be provided for pilgrims.

Police assistance camps, temporary health centres, drinking water, ORS and resting facilities would be made available at these locations, he said.

"In other states, I have seen governments actively supporting such religious traditions. West Bengal had been deprived of such support for years. This government will extend that support," Adhikari said.

He further said that, weather permitting, rose petals would be showered from helicopters on pilgrims every Monday during the holy month of Shravan.

The chief minister said he would be present at Tarakeswar on Tuesday.

He further said that the state budget had made provision for developing a "Pilgrimage Circuit" as part of the government's efforts to preserve places of religious and historical significance.

"We have taken the initiative to restore several ancient maths and temples, including Kiriteshwari, and bring them under the heritage framework. These are sites with a rich historical legacy. We have earmarked Rs 1,000 crore for the maintenance and conservation of religious places," Adhikari said.

He said hospitals run by the Bharat Sevashram Sangha had been brought under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

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Adhikari also announced that the government had approved a corpus fund of Rs 5 crore for Simla Street, the birthplace of Swami Vivekananda.