Uttar Pradesh government led by Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday announced it will spend a massive fund of Rs 2500 crore for the preparations of Ardh Kumbh mela shceduled to be held in 2019, reported All India Radio, the government broadcaster.

#UttarPradesh govt decides to spend massive fund of Rs 2500 cr for Ardhkumbh mela 2019 preparations. pic.twitter.com/bma1TaD529 — All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) September 6, 2017

Speaking in Allahabad, Adityanath said “We are preparing for this event. The land of Prayagraj is important to us. We want to dedicate this Kumbh Mela to the farmers.”

His statement on allocating more than Rs 2,000 crore for a religious event comes in the wake of hundreds of children dying due to lack of oxygen supply and incredibly poor infrastructure in health sector.

More than 290 children died in BRD Medical College Hospital in in Gorakhpur, the hometown of Adityanath, in August alone. On Monday, it was revealed than 49 children had died in another government hospital in Farrukhabad district of Uttar Pradesh due lack of oxygen supply.

Adityanath’s priority has come under sharp scrutiny ever since he became the chief minister in March this year. Critics say that he’s been paying more attention on carrying out his party’s pro-Hindutva agenda than improving governance.