VIJAYAWADA: The Krishna district administration is leaving no stone unturned to provide hassle-free bath for the pilgrims near the bathing ghats during the Krishna Pushkarams. In this regard, the bathing ghats are divided into sectors by 150m to 200 m width to provide adequate material and manpower.
As many as 74 bathing ghats are being developed by the state government in the Krishna district. Of them, seven major bathing ghats are located in Vijayawada city alone. Officials from police, irrigation, medical and health, rural water supply and sanitation, roads and buildings, and panchayati raj departments will be deployed on special duties for the sector. Each sector will be monitored by a sub-collector rank officer. The officials will work in shifts at the bathing ghats.
Dress code is mandatory for all the employees deputed for Pushkaram duties based on their department. Specially designed aprons on which Krishna Pushkaram logo printed will be distributed to the employees for administrative convenience. Medical camps will be arranged near each sector which will be monitored round the clock by the rapid emergency medical teams.
Elaborate arrangements are being made by the officials to develop platforms near the bathing ghats to perform ‘Pinda Pradhana’, a religious ritual to pay obeisance to departed elders and loved ones.
Special stalls are being developed to supply Ganga pooja kits for the pilgrims to perform various kinds of rituals at the bathing ghats. Self-help groups (SHGs) will be entrusted the task in this regard. The officials have arranged 250 stalls in the city, of them 150 stalls will be in Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation Stadium, 50 stalls near Pavitra Sangamam, and another 50 stalls near downstream of Prakasam barrage. The pooja kits will be handed over to the SHGs by August 7 and the prices of the kits are yet to be fixed by the administration.
Speaking to the Express, Krishna Pushkarams special officer B Rajasekhar said that fool-proof arrangements are being made for the Krishna Pushkarams to be a grand success. The works near bathing ghats and pushkar nagars are going on a brisk pace, as August 4 is the deadline for the completion of Pushkaram works. Around 36 pushkar nagars are being developed by the administration, he said.
A trial run of the facilities and arrangements will be conducted on August 4 near all the bathing ghats, and on August 7 in pushkar nagars.