As we get closer to the 2027 Kumbh Mela in Nashik-Trimbakeshwar, the state has given the green light to Rs 2,267 crore for some urgent land deals. It’s a way of making sure the Sadhu Gram is in order for the seers and akharas that will be part of the grand event, with strict spending and payment protocols to back it up.
A resolution from the Urban Development Department makes it plain: this is a one-off sanction for the purchase of land. If the bill comes in higher than what’s been approved, the onus is on the Nashik Municipal Corporation to foot the rest.
Funding decision and its purpose
So the Urban Development Department has handed over Rs 2,267 crore to the Kumbh Mela Authority to see to the land within the civic limits for the temporary township of Sadhu Gram. The paperwork is clear that this is where the seers and akharas will be during the Mela.
What you have in the approved figure is the compensation for 191.21 acres of land, plus a Rs 3 crore for the kind of administrative costs that come with it. The word from the top is to get the landowners their money without any dilly-dallying.
Tight controls on use of funds
The state has made no bones about it: if you siphon off any of the sanctioned cash or the interest on it, you’re looking at a major financial irregularity. Those in charge of implementation have been told as much.
To be sure everyone is on the same page, the resolution lays down the law:
– Put the money to work only for the Sadhu Gram
– Make compensation transfers right away by RTGS
– Any sidetracking of funds is an irregularity
– Don’t expect more from the state than what’s been given
– The corporation is on the hook for any overruns
What land is being acquired
If you look at the 2017 Nashik Development Plan, you’ll see some 377 acres were set aside for Sadhu Gram and such. We’ve already put our hands on 94 of those; the rest is what we need to have in hand before the 2027 Mela.
This latest round of approval is for 191.21 acres. The plan is to verify and do the e-transfers as a matter of priority. Since it’s all inside the Nashik civic boundary, it allows for a solid, unbroken patch of ground for the township.
Accountability and next steps
It’s up to the district collector and the municipal commissioner in Nashik to make sure the land is in our possession in good time. The resolution is quite specific: check the compensation and wire it through RTGS for a quick settlement.
Make no mistake, this is a one-time thing. The state won’t be chipping in any more than the Rs 2,267 crore. Should the project cost to go up, the Nashik Municipal Corporation will have to make up the difference.
Why it matters
You can’t run a Kumbh Mela without a well-organised Sadhu Gram for the akharas and seers. By putting a ring around the funding and holding people to account, the state is trying to avoid hiccups and have the infrastructure in place for 2027.
All of this was put in writing after the state cabinet’s infrastructure committee met on April 22. The message is to move fast on the acquisition so the township is ready and waiting for the congregation.
In a way, the state has got the most pressing part of the job out of the way. The funding is there, the lines are drawn, and the roles are filled. Now we’ll see if they can close the deal on the land in time to keep the whole operation on the rails.
