AYODHYA: A day after the chief medical officer flagged concerns over holding the Ram Navami Mela in Ayodhya amid advisories to restrict mass gatherings, the district magistrate on Sunday said the fair would be held as per schedule.The DM said reports of the CMO’s demand to call off the Ram Navami Mela are fake. “Ram Navami will be celebrated as per tradition and with all precautions in place. The administration will issue timely advisory for people and will take all necessary care of the health of visiting devotees,” the DM said.Ghanshyam Singh, the CMO, said on Saturday, “Since the chief minister has advised against holding gatherings, we are discussing with the administrative brass about the risks in holding the Mela this year.”Talking to TOI, Dr Vikasendu Agrawal , nodal officer for coronavirus, said, “Once the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897 is invoked, mass gatherings are risky. Even IPL matches scheduled to be held in the state have been cancelled.”He added, “We won’t be able to ensure that all pilgrims wear masks or maintain a distance of 1.5 meter among themselves to ward off the threat from coronavirus. It’s an impossible proposition. We will review the situation on March 22. If the situation remains the same I will request the government to avoid gatherings.”Ved Prakash Gupta, Ayodhya MLA, said: “We can’t stop the ocean of faith. Pilgrims would be advised to wear masks and maintain safe distance between each other while holding rituals.”