Allahabad: The Allahabad High Court on Thursday directed the UP government, the district administration of Allahabad and the Kumbh Mela administration to ensure that no vehicle other than that of police and ambulance service is allowed to ply during the key bathing days.
A division bench of justices Ashok Bhushan and Arun Tandon passed the order on a petition relating to pollution in the Ganga river.
The bench has also sought a report on pollution levels in the river by state pollution control board on March 21.
The ongoing Kumbh Mela, which began with the bathing festival of Makar Sankranti (January 14) and witnessed an all-time-high turnout of about three crore devotees on the Mauni Amavasya, is scheduled to have its last high-profile bathing festival tomorrow on the occasion of Basant Panchmi.
It would be followed by low-key "snan parvas" of Magh Poornima (February 25) and Mahashivaratri (March 10) when the congregation, often described as the "greatest show on earth", will come to an end.
PTI
