67 Pushkar ghats to be constructed in 5 Telangana districts Senior officials deputed to oversee arrangements Rs one crore to be spe...
- 67 Pushkar ghats to be constructed in 5 Telangana districts
- Senior officials deputed to oversee arrangements
- Rs one crore to be spent on improving facilities at Bhadradri temple
Warangal/Khammam: With just a little over four months left for Godavari Pushkaralu, the once-in-12-year religious fete, the authorities have a lot of work to do from here onwards to complete the arrangements on time for the mega event.
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| godavari pushkaralu |
The State government, which has plans of organising Godavari Pushkaralu on the lines of ‘Kumbh Mela’ in the north at an estimated cost of Rs 452 crore, had long ago stated that it would construct 67 Pushkar ghats and carry out repairs on the existing 27 ghats constructed in the past for the devotees to have a dip in the river at several places in Warangal, Khammam, Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Adilabad districts.
With devotees and tourists from across the country and abroad were likely to attend the event scheduled from July 14 to 25, the Ministry of Endowments had decided to depute senior officials to oversee the arrangements including setting up police control rooms and basic amenities such as drinking water facility and toilets at all the ghats.
In Warangal district, the administration had identified three places – Ramannagudem and Mallakatta in Eturunagaram mandal and Mallur in Mangapet mandal for the Godavari Pushkaralu.
An 18-member panel headed by the district collector had also been constituted some four months ago. The panel has drawn up plans with an outlay of Rs 28 crore.
Keeping an estimated crowd of at least one lakh every day witnessing the 12-day fiesta in mind, the authorities have proposed to build 100 metre ghats, installation of a battery of taps and construction of dressing rooms. Proposals were also made for taking up CC roads in the region for the free flow of traffic. However, none of these works have started to date.
In Khammam district, the administration has proposal to construct six bathing ghats two each in Bhadrachalam and Parnashala, and one each at Chinaraigudem in Manuguru mandal and Ramchandrapuram in Venkatapuram mandal with an outlay of Rs 10 crore.
It is also learnt that government will provide Rs 1 crore to improve facilities at the Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy temple in Bhadrachalam ahead of Pushakarlu.
Attributing the inordinate delay to the ‘code of conduct’, which is in force due to the biennial Council election, sources in the administration said that works are expected to begin later this month.
Considering the quantum of work to be done especially in the wake of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s wish to invite President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Governors and Chief Ministers of all states for the event, it appears that the authorities have a tough time ahead of them.
