Kanwar Yatra: Leave cancelled in Meerut until August 12.
Meerut. The administration in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut district has gone on high alert regarding the upcoming Kanwar Yatra. To ensure smooth security arrangements, traffic management, and facilities for devotees during the pilgrimage, the district administration has taken a significant decision. District Magistrate (DM) Dr. VK Singh has cancelled the leave of all officials and employees across government departments in the district until August 12. The administration has stated that there will be no room for negligence during the Kanwar Yatra, and all departments are required to function at full capacity.
According to the directives issued by DM Dr. VK Singh, officials and employees from all district departments must remain present at their respective workplaces until August 12. No routine leave will be granted during this period. The administration anticipates a large influx of devotees passing through the district during the Kanwar Yatra, making the active participation of various departments essential.
The District Magistrate clarified that if a gazetted officer requires leave due to urgent or exceptional circumstances, they must obtain permission through the Chief Development Officer (CDO). Once permission is granted, the District Magistrate’s office must be informed. No gazetted officer may proceed on leave without prior authorization.
Similar special guidelines have been issued for other departmental employees. If an employee needs to take leave due to unavoidable circumstances, they must obtain prior permission from the senior officer of their respective department. Additionally, the District Magistrate’s office must be notified of the leave. The administration has instructed all heads of departments to ensure strict compliance with these arrangements.
The district administration maintains that upholding law and order during the Kanwar Yatra is the top priority. Furthermore, active participation is required from departments responsible for traffic management, health services, drinking water, electricity supply, sanitation, fire services, municipal bodies, public works, transport, and other essential services. Consequently, the decision to cancel leave has been taken to ensure the availability of officials and staff across all departments. According to the administration, a large number of Shiva devotees pass through Meerut during the Kanwar Yatra, leading to increased traffic pressure on national and state highways. Effective coordination among various departments is essential to maintain robust security arrangements and ensure that pilgrims face no inconvenience. With this objective, all officials and staff have been instructed to remain vigilant and discharge their duties with a strong sense of responsibility.
District Magistrate Dr. VK Singh has also directed the concerned departments to regularly inspect the pilgrimage routes and immediately report any issues to the district control room. Immediate resolution must be ensured for any obstructions, waterlogging, power supply disruptions, sanitation issues, or other emergencies. Departmental officials have been instructed to remain actively present in the field for this purpose.
The administration has directed all officials to work in coordination so that any emergency situation can be resolved in a timely manner. Emphasis has also been placed on ensuring the rapid exchange of information between the control room and the concerned departments. Officials have been instructed to keep their mobile phones switched on at all times and to be immediately available when needed.
The District Magistrate clarified that conducting the Kanwar Yatra in a peaceful, safe, and orderly manner is the administration’s top priority. Negligence at any level will not be tolerated. All departments must discharge their duties seriously; any official or employee found disregarding orders may face action in accordance with the rules.
In preparation for the Kanwar Yatra, the Meerut administration is already engaged in preparations at various levels. Continuous meetings are being held to inspect routes, review security arrangements, plan traffic management, and ensure the availability of necessary amenities. The administration aims to provide a safe environment for pilgrims while ensuring minimal inconvenience to the general public during the Yatra.
The administration expects that through the coordinated efforts of all departments, the Kanwar Yatra will conclude peacefully and in an orderly manner. Keeping this in mind, it has been decided to cancel the leave of all officers and employees until August 12, so that every department can immediately discharge its responsibilities if the need arises.
