Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Strict norms for Pongala volunteers

Thiruvananthapuram: Deputy Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, T. Vikram, on Friday said the police would discourage organised groups of youth from stopping vehicles on the main road under the pretext of serving refreshments to women devotees returning home after offering pongala at Attukal Temple on April 10. (Such instances had resulted in law and order problems and traffic jams in the city in the past.)

More than 15 lakh women are expected to make the pongala offering. Only those who have registered their services with the police will be allowed to serve them food, beverages or other refreshments.

Kuriyathi Sreekantan, convenor of the neighbourhood watch in the area, said volunteers (seven each) from 137 resident associations were working in tandem with the police to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival.

The police have issued them photo identity cards. Only they will be allowed to work as volunteers in the festival area on Pongala day. The police will restrict the entry of men into the festival area on April 10.

The High Court restrictions on the use of loudspeakers in public places will be strictly enforced. The police have asked mike operators not to switch on public address systems before 8 a.m. and after 9 p.m.

“We are mindful that citizens living in the festival area and students preparing for their academic year end examinations are those most affected by the sound pollution,” Circle Inspector, Fort, B. Harikumar said.

The police will register cases against persons playing music at high decibel levels, even if there is no specific complaint from the public. The use of public address systems for marketing and advertising will be prohibited.

The police will use a video surveillance system for monitoring the temple precincts. It has erected two elevated observation posts near the temple.

Nearly 2,500 policemen, including those drawn from neighbouring districts, will be deployed in the city on April 10. The festival area has been divided into two zones for policing purposes. Mr. Vikram and Deputy Commissioner S. Somanatha Pillai will head the zones.

Devotees will be allowed to make Pongala offering only on one side of the road. The Killipalam-Attukal Bund road and Ambalathara-Thiruvallam road will be kept free of vehicles and devotees for emergency movement of traffic, including ambulances and police vehicles.

The police expect the festival area to extend up to P.M.G. Junction, Pettah and Pappanamcode this year.

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