Shinde at Trimbak Saints' Meet: Shiv Sena to Arrange Meals for Saints of All 13 Akhadas; Pucca Homes for Families Displaced by Kumbh Works, Trimbak Stadium Land Being Acquired
At an 'Anandkumbh' saints' meet organised by the Shiv Sena in Trimbakeshwar on 26 October, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced that his party will arrange meals for the saints and seers of all 13 akhadas during the Simhastha (Sarkarnama, Prahaar). He said families affected by Kumbh works will be rehabilitated in pucca homes, traders, shopkeepers and farmers will be compensated for losses, and Sadhugram land-acquisition complaints will be resolved. In Nashik the same day he broke ground for the new parallel Gangapur Road and repeated the figure of about ₹35,000 crore for Kumbh preparations (FPJ).
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Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde spent Monday 26 October in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar, five days before the flag hoisting. REPORTED: the points below are from Sarkarnama and Prahaar (Trimbak) and the Free Press Journal (Nashik). No government order or release has been published on them yet.
At the Trimbak saints' meet
The Shiv Sena organised an "Anandkumbh" sant sammelan in Trimbakeshwar, attended by saints and mahants of several akhadas. There Shinde said:
- Meals for saints of all 13 akhadas: the Shiv Sena will arrange food for the saints, mahants and sadhus of all 13 akhadas during the Simhastha. This is a party offer, not a government scheme. No cost, duration or arrangement details were given.
- Rehabilitation: families affected by Kumbh works will be rehabilitated with pucca homes, and "no one will face injustice".
- Compensation: the government will compensate traders, shopkeepers and farmers for any losses caused by the works.
- Sadhugram: complaints about land acquisition for the Sadhugram will be resolved. Background: Tapovan Sadhugram acquisition.
- Trimbakeshwar: land acquisition for a stadium is under way and funds have been planned; money will be given for the municipal council's administrative building; the sub-district hospital will go from 50 to 100 beds (earlier report on the new 100-bed hospital site).
Minister Dada Bhuse, MLA Suhas Kande and Trimbak council president Triveni Tungar were present, Sarkarnama reported.
In Nashik: parallel Gangapur Road
Earlier the same day Shinde performed the bhoomipujan of the new parallel Gangapur Road, which he said should ease traffic. He told officials to finish it on time and act against contractors doing poor work (FPJ). He repeated that the state has set aside about ₹35,000 crore for Kumbh preparations. That is the same rounded figure Kumbh Mela Minister Girish Mahajan has used; the detailed numbers are in our budget explainer.
Why it matters
- For pilgrims there is no change to dates, routes or rules from these announcements.
- For residents and traders near Kumbh works, the rehabilitation and compensation pledges are worth noting, but there is no written policy yet. Keep records of any loss and watch for official notices from the NMC, the Collector or the Kumbh Mela Authority.
- The akhada meals plan is a political party initiative. Akhadas usually run their own kitchens, and how this will fit with them was not explained.
