The Ganga Sagar Mela ended in controversy with the local CPM legislator demanding that the annual festival be handed over to the Centre. CPM MLA Provanjan Mondal said if the Centre controls the Mela, it would ensure that the state government gets a share of the proceeds. The proceeds are currently sent to the Pancha Ramananda Akhara in Ayodhya, the parent body of the Kapil Muni Seva Samity, which runs the Kapil Muni temple in front of which the Mela is held. The move to hand over control of the Mela was, however, strongly resented by Mohanta Gyandas Maharaj of Ayodhya. The earnings during the Mela includes pilgrim tax of Rs 5 per person, income from space let out for stalls, advertisements placed by organisations and sundry income of small amounts from various other sources. As these are not enough to meet the expenses, the state has to provide subsidies, Mondal said. The major part of the income, according to Mondal, comes from the deposit in the Kapil Muni temple, which temple authorities send to Ayodhya without giv- ing anything to the state government. 'For a long time, we have been demanding that the state government be given a share of the collection,' the CPM MLA said. 'If the Central government nationalises the Mela, not only will we get a share of the collection, but Central assistance will also be provided and the burden on the state government will be reduced,' he added. However, Gyandas Maharaj is reluctant to share the collection. 'They may make the demand but it should be seen with an open mind. Some people think that during these three days the collection is quite heavy but the truth is far from that,' he said. 'If one studies the economic standard of the visitors, they will realise the situation. What the pilgrims offer is quite negligible. Most of them offer one or two rupees. After all it is not a Kumbh Mela where the collection is really heavy. 'Moreover, we deposit the entire collection with the parent body at Ayodhya from where it is disbursed to run Kapil Muni temples in different places of the country. Those who are making the demand should keep in mind that the temple expenses need to be met throughout the year, while the income through the year is quite negligible. 'We have also donated Rs 4 lakh for a local college and a school. We are also asking for 100 bighas land on Sagar Island to build a guest house for the pilgrims to stay free of cost,' said Gyandas Maharaj. Zilla Parishad Sabhadhipati Sova Dutta, however, said: 'We cannot allot land to any organisation without considering a number of aspects, including the environmental aspect. We cannot have any permanent structure at the sea coast as it will threaten the environment. The structures that exist were made before laws were restricting such construction were enacted.' The Ganga Sagar Mela is held in front of Kapil Muni temple on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, usually held from January 12-15 of year. This year about three lakh pilgrims from different parts of the country, as well as from adjoining countries like Nepal and Bangladesh, took the holy dip. Mammoth arrangements are made by the district administration to conduct the Mela. This year the estimated budget was more than Rs 5 crore.