Andhra Pradesh - Kurnool   

Pushkaram ghats will be ready soon: Collector

By Our Staff Reporter

KURNOOL, AUG. 23. The Collector (in charge), Mukesh Kumar Meena, said on Monday that the official machinery would take over pushkaram ghats at four places in Kurnool district by August 26, two days before of the festival opened.

Talking to reporters here, Mr. Meena said puskharam ghats were soon to be completed at Pathalaganga, Lingalagattu Right bank, Lingalagattu left bank and Sangameswaram. A total of 51 works, costing Rs. 13 crores, were in the final stages, he said.

Three layers of security - wire mesh, boats with "ace swimmers" and power boats - had been arranged at each ghat. He said 2,000 policemen, 2,000 employees from other departments and 500 volunteers would be deployed.

Accommodation

Mr. Meena said around 1 lakh pilgrims were expected every day at Srisailam during the 12-day pushkaram, adding that 3.5 lakh pilgrims had visited the place during the last Pushkaram. About 1,200 ordinary rooms and 120 air-conditioned rooms were available at Srisailam. The administration would reserve the independent guesthouses for VIPs, he said, adding that temporary sheds were being erected in an area of 50,000 sqft for pilgrims without accommodation.

Sale of laddus

In the temple, a queue complex had been arranged to accommodate 10,000 people. Around 19 lakh laddus had been ordered for sale through seven counters, with the local bank handling the sales. The administration had entered an agreement with owners of restaurants to regulate the price of eatables. The District Supply Officer and his staff would supervise, Mr. Meena said, adding that prices for priests to perform rituals had been fixed.

Mr. Meena said Sulabh would deploy 300 workers, and the temple administration 50 workers, for sanitation operations. An adequate number of toilets and changing rooms had been built, and water tanks and drinking water taps were arranged at all places.

Medical centres

He said 18 medical centres, manned by 50 doctors and supported by seven ambulances, would function round the clock. Seven information centres and two parking lots had been arranged. The APSRTC would operate 200 buses from different places, while 50 buses would carry out sorties locally, he said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

• Pushkaram ghats will be ready soon: Collector

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu