Moreover, it also reportedly goes against the Environment Ministry's advisory, which mandates that “for non-forest activities, forest land can be given only for a duration of 15 days and it doesn't include protected forest land”.

For the approval to be given, an official of the Uttarkhand government has said “it may be considered as an exceptional case”.

“Kumbh Mela is a significant festival as per Hindu tradition and therefore, it may be considered as an exceptional case and can be given approval”, Subhash Chandra, additional secretary of the Uttarakhand government, has been quoted by The Times of India as saying in a letter to to the Environment Ministry.