Upper Ganga Canal closed for repairs ahead of 2021 Haridwar Kumbh Mela, water supply in NCR, western UP to be hit

The Upper Ganga Canal will remain closed from October 15 to midnight of November 15 for repair and maintenance work ahead of Haridwar Kumbh 2021. The bathing dates for it have already been announced beginning January 14.

The closure of the Upper Ganga Canal for a period of one month will affect water supply in the National Capital Region and also for irrigation purposes in western Uttar Pradesh. Water to these parts of the country are to a large extent dependant on the Upper Ganga Canal.

According to a letter sent by the special secretary of Uttar Pradesh Mushtaq Ahmed to Chief Engineer and Head of Irrigation and Water Resources Department of the state, the Uttar Pradesh government has issued orders for the closure of the Upper Ganga Canal and said that it will remain closed from the midnight of October 15 to midnight of November 15.

The 2021 Maha Kumbh Mela will be held at Haridwar. Earlier, Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Madan Kaushik said that between 35 to 50 lakh people are estimated to take the dip in Ganga daily during the Kumbh Mela 2021.

"During this closure, the works of proposed and under construction ghats for the Kumbh Mela 2021 will be completed, the irrigation department will do the repair work," the letter stated.