Even as preparations for the Navratra mela at Mansa Devi shrine are on, no politician is expected to turn up for the inauguration with the Model Code of Conduct in force. The nine-day festival is scheduled to begin on September 19.

“This time, the mela would be inaugurated by Krishan Mohan, Financial Commissioner, Home Department,” said Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Yadav.

Meanwhile, the administration, for the first time, has invited famed sweet shops of the city such as Gopal Sweets, Anupam Sweets and Sindhi Sweets to put up their stalls during the mela.

“We held a meeting recently where we decided to depute about 25 special officials with powers of executive magistrate for security. An equal number of police officers would also be pressed into service. Also, this is for the first time that we have invited branded sweet shops like Gopal’s, Anupam and Sindhi Sweets to put up their stalls during the mela,” said Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Yadav.

He added that about seven to eight booths would be set up to assist the devotees. Yadav further said that around 15 acres of land has been made available for parking.

“Besides this, facilities for fresh drinking water, temporary health clinics and the like would also be provided. Also, while a large number of CCTV cameras have been installed within the shrine premises, orders to install more on the approach to the main building have been issued. Special care would also be taken to check the menace of begging within the shrine premises” he added.

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