GUWAHATI, June 6 - In a bid to ease traffic congestion and ensure hygiene, the Kamrup Metro district administration has decided against setting up a rest camp for devotees near the Kamakhya Railway Station here for the ensuing Ambubachi Mela.
Kamrup Metro DC Biswajeet Pegu said that instead of the Kamakhya Railway Station, three rest camps will come up inside the old jail campus located at the Fancy Bazar area.
�On the basis of previous data, we have realised that the rest camp near the railway station causes a lot of inconvenience to other passengers. So we have taken the current step,� Pegu told The Assam Tribune.
Meanwhile, the administration has taken special steps to ensure cleanliness and hygiene in the city during the Ambubachi Mela. As part of the effort, it has issued a number of guidelines to the Bhandaras who provide free food to devotees.
According to the district administration, no temporary stall to distribute food items will be allowed along the road to the Kamakhya temple from Bharalumukh, and from the Kamakhya Gate to Maligaon. Officials of the district food safety department will constantly monitor all foodstuffs prepared and served during the Mela days.
In a charter of directives, the district administration clearly stated that every Bhandara should have to maintain utmost hygiene and sanitation while preparing and serving food, and all ingredients used for preparation of different food items must be of the best quality.
The administration also stated that all packaged drinking water must carry the ISI or BIS marks and be in a sealed condition during the time of serving. Restrictions will also be imposed on distribution of fruit items prepared outside a Bhandara, plastic plates, cups and spoons.
The district administration has also asked all Bhandaras not to use chilli powder, dry chillies, pumpkins, khichiri, blended oil and curd in the preparation of foodstuffs.
The administration will also impose a total restriction on the distribution of food outside the dining hall of the Bhandaras.
