Haridwar (Uttarakhand), Nov 20 : Security has been beefed up at Har Ki Pauri, a sacred ghat on the banks of river Ganges, ahead of the Maha Kumbh Mela.

During the ''Maha Kumbh Mela, Har Ki Pauri will be one of the main sites where pilgrims will converge to take dip in the holy river Ganges to wash away their sins.

Slated for January 2010, the festival is celebrated once in every 12 years and some 10 million people are expected to converge at Haridwar.

Sensing the importance of the ghat, elaborate security arrangements have been put into place so as to prevent any untoward incident.

Kailesh Keshwani, president of a local business association, said that locals must be made aware about the security threat at Har Ki Pauri.

“If they can create awareness among the local people and take out the fear out of them, if the local can provide any information regarding any terrorist then it would be a great help to the security officials. I feel that the local people should be made aware about the security of Kumbh Mela,” Keshwani said.

Uma Kant Panwar, Commissioner of Police, Garhwal region, said that in the wake of the recent developments like the David Coleman Headley case, a terror suspect in 26/11 Mumbai attack, they are doing everything to tackle any possible threat.

He also said that security arrangements have been put into place in coordination with the neighbouring states.

“See as far as we can anticipate any danger, we are doing everything and if any new incident come to the fore like the recent Headley case, which has come to fore only 10 days back. So, we are doing everything necessary to tackle any new situation. As far as we can anticipate with our information, we are prepared,” Panwar said.

Mehant Garn Dass, a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader, said that the security arrangements at the ghat are satisfying.

“There is no lack in the security arrangement here. The security police for the mela (Kumbh Mela) are performing their duty quite efficiently and they keep patrolling the area,” said Dass. (ANI)