Mela Authority’s land row with defence min to end soon

Prayagraj: The years-old trouble of Prayagraj Mela Authority of taking the mela land on lease from the defence ministry and the disagreement between the two over permanent construction on it last year, may finally see a permanent settlement.
The district administration has moved a proposal which would lead to handing over of the land having the old office, Integrated Control and Command Centre (ICCC) and Mela SSP office permanently to Prayagraj Mela Authority, if land of the same area is provided to the army elsewhere.
Prayagraj Mela Authority has sent a letter to defence ministry in this regard in response to a letter from defence ministry’s OSD (Defence Land) Rupesh Kumar, wherein it agreed to transfer the land, provided land of same size is given to it in exchange.
The parade area comes under defence land. The district administration used to take the 3,723 square metres of land on lease from defence authorities for a few months every year for organising the Magh mela and longer duration for Kumbh Mela.
In July last year, two permanent structures — the ICCC building and Mela SSP office — were constructed on it which led to a dispute. The army barricaded the road leading to these buildings claiming the buildings are illegal since the construction is against terms of the lease.
The district administration is actively looking for alternate land to be given to the army.
“We have moved a proposal offering land of the same area and value to the defence ministry if it gives us the land where three buildings, ICCC, SSP office and old office are located. The long-standing problem faced every year would be resolved amicably,” said Mela Adhikari and City Magistrate, Rajnish Kumar Mishra.