PRAYAGRAJ, Dec. 30 -- Discontentment over land to set up camps at the venue of Magh Mela, which is set to begin on the sandy banks of the Sangam on January 3, shows no sign of ending. On Monday, several protested at the Prayagraj Mela Authority office demanding land allocation and alleging lack of facilities. At times, the situation escalated to the brink of clashes between the protesters and police. Gopal Nand Giri of the Niranjani Akhara expressed extreme anger over the delay in land allotment. He warned that if land was not allocated to the Akhara on Monday, he would resort to self-immolation at the office the next day. He also accused the mela administration of favoritism and acting at the behest of a certain 'baba', claiming that people associated with the seer, in collusion with authorities, were assaulting those protesting at the office. A group of agitated seers laid down in front of the vehicle of mela officer Rishi Raj. The sadhus had gathered at the office and claimed that their demands were being ignored. When the officer attempted to leave in his car, the sadhus blocked it by lying on the ground. The officer then got out, brought the sadhus inside, heard their grievances, and assured them of a solution, calming the situation. Among those at the office, some complained that despite waiting for weeks, they had not been allotted land, while others who had received land expressed frustration that their facilities were still incomplete, preventing them from setting up their camps. Pankaj Tirth, a purohit, said, "We have been setting up our camp at the mela for decades and paying the yearly rent, yet this year we have not received land. In two days, 'kalpvasis' will arrive. where will they be accommodated?" Upset Balendra Dwivedi, Parmahansi Geeta Gosala Committee, Rajasthan said, "We submitted applications on December 6. Initially, we were told we would get land in Sector 6, then in Arail, but nothing has been provided yet. Every day we are given false assurances." Jitendra, Uttarardh Shri Vaishno Mool Math, Ramanuj Kot, Andhra Pradesh said, "I have been visiting mela office for over a month. With only days left for mela to begin, we still don't know where our camp will be set up." htc...