BMC plans Khandagiri Mela in a big way

BHUBANESWAR: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) will, in a day or two, start floating tenders for temporary stalls and cycle stands which would come up at the Khandagiri foothills on the occasion of the 10-day Khandagiri Kumbha Mela. The Mela is scheduled to be held next month.The space between Khandagiri Square and Khandagiri hills, where the fair is held every year, would be sold out for the purpose through  auction.Aiming to organise the Mela on a larger scale, this time the BMC has planned to allow setting up of more stalls than last year. Sources said last year, over 350 temporary stalls of 8X8 square feet were set up on both sides of the road joining NH-5 with the Khandagiri hills. Around `6.5 lakh was collected from the sale.However, some local councillors had alleged large-scale misappropriation in the process of allocation. It was also alleged that some locals had sold their stalls to others at higher rates after getting them from the Corporation.“This time, however, filing of tenders by interested parties and the auction will only be done in the BMC office in the presence of the officials concerned and after scrutiny of requisite papers. The bidders will have to pay the full auction amount at the office. A tab will also be kept on use of these stalls by the parties so that there is no chance of misappropriation,” said Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.Earlier, the BMC used to allot land on a first-come-first-serve basis, but it gave rise to problems. In the process, while some people got more space, others did not get any space at all. “We will be taking necessary steps to ensure that these problems do not occur this time,” the Mayor said, adding that priority would be laid on sanitation and security in the area during the event.Over the years, the Mela has evolved both in stature and popularity. Although the Khandagiri-Udaygiri caves are internationally known as Jain heritage sites, the Mela has become an immensely popular religious and cultural affair for the local communities who host it with enthusiasm.Leaders and followers of various Hindu religious sects assemble here in large numbers from far and wide during the event. They participate in the four-decade-old ‘yajna’ that continues throughout the Mela.This apart, the event is a much-awaited affair for the women who prefer to buy a wide variety of household goods from artisans and craftspersons coming here from different parts of the State.The Mela will coincide with the Magha Saptami celebrations and culminate on the following full moon day. As many as 10 ‘jatra’ troupes have been invited to stage performances every evening during the Mela.The Corporation has sought the cooperation of police, fire brigade and others concerned to ensure success of the fair.