Kanwar Yatra: Meat shops along Delhi routes to be closed from July 11 to 23, most establishments illegal, says minister Kapil Mishra; move to ease devotee passage

NEW DELHI: Delhi culture and tourism minister Kapil Mishra on Wednesday said that meat shops along the route of kanwar yatris, most of which he claims are illegal, will be shut during the yatra period in the month of Sawan.The kanwar yatra, scheduled from July 11 to 23, will see lakhs of devotees from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Delhi passing through the capital.Speaking to reporters while conducting an inspection from Apsara Border to Karol Bagh along with mayor Raja Iqbal Singh, Mishra said, "Municipal Corporation of Delhi has taken a decision, and govt has also decided that all the meat shops will be closed."

Asked if the directive will be only for illegal shops, Mishra said that it will apply to all shops on the route.

MCD will soon issue an order in this regard, he added."The mayor is with us, and we have all decided to shut down all such illegal meat shops. Most of these shops are illegal," he said.This is the first time that such instructions have been given in the national capital.The inspection covered key points along the route through which crores of kanwariyas pass every year. Leading the inspection team, Mishra visited several sites, including Apsara border, Dilshad Garden, Seelampur, Shastri Park, Kashmere Gate and Karol Bagh.

Observing the traffic flow firsthand, he instructed officials to ensure that the kanwar yatra progresses smoothly without affecting the vehicular movement.Delhi Police have mapped major pedestrian routes for the yatris. Key corridors include Apsara border to Rajokri border via Shahdara, ISBT and NH8; and Bhopura border to Singhu/Tikri border via Seelampur and Peeragarhi. Additional routes connect Bhopura to ISBT Bridge, Maharajpur to Badarpur via Mathura Road, and Kalindi Kunj to MB Road."In Delhi, about 2.5-3 crore people participate in the kanwar yatra. Grand preparations are being made to welcome them. MCD is also with us; this time the welcome will be historic and grand welcome gates will be installed," Mishra said, adding that there will also be a shower of flowers."This time, on the instructions of the chief minister, financial aid will be directly deposited into the accounts of the kanwar committees.

Electricity is also being provided free of charge, and a single-window clearance system has been established," he said, adding that there will also be proper arrangements for water and barricading.Mishra said he was inspecting the route to ensure that there are no problems along the route of the kanwar yatris and all preparations are in place. Delhi, he added, was ready to immerse itself in a celebratory mood of Sawan.He also pointed out that it was for the first time that a joint inspection team comprising four MLAs - Anil Sharma, Tilak Ram Gupta, Sanjay Goyal and Pradyumn Rajput - had been constituted under a minister's leadership. This, he said, reflected Delhi govt's commitment to serving kanwariyas.