Punjab: Maghi fair site submerged
Punjab: Yesterday’s rains have disrupted the Maghi Mela in Muktsar town. The mela ground and many lanes in the town are waterlogged. The situation is such that the team of Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh and Faridkot MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa have decided to shift the venue of their January 14 rally from a vacant plot along the Bathinda-Kot Kapura bypass to a wedding resort along Bathinda Road on the outskirts of the city. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is holding its rally at its favourite venue, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) ground along Malout Road. The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) is holding its rally at Dera Bhai Mastan Singh here. Speaking to The Tribune, Faridkot MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa said, “Due to rains, our rally venue was waterlogged, so we have shifted the venue to Green Sea Resort near SSP office along Bathinda Road. Now we will hold the rally in the rally hall itself, so that there is no problem due to change in weather. Meanwhile, Muktsar district SAD general secretary Binder Goniana said, we are making the stage waterproof. Varinder Kapoor, who is organising the fair on Malout Road this year, said, we have paid a fee of Rs 1.04 crore to the district administration for installing swings. The fair began on Saturday, but the ground was flooded due to rain. Now there is no arrangement for drainage of rainwater. Devotees come to Muktsar mainly on January 13, 14 and 15, but the fair ground is wet and slippery. This will cause us huge losses. Meanwhile, some local residents said that the rain has exposed the district administration’s preparations. The local bus stand was also flooded. Two polo matches were to be held in Lambi Dhab village, but only one match could be held due to the temporary ground being wet. Muktsar Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Tripathi visited the mela ground and other parts of the city and directed the concerned officials to drain out rain water and sewage so that the devotees do not face any problem. He said that two plays ‘Sirhind Di Deewar’ and ‘Mai Tera Banda’ would be performed at Dera Bhai Mastan Singh Public School on January 13 and 14.
