VIJAYAWADA: After facing severe criticism from devotees during recent Dasara festivities over poor maintenance of sanitation at Durga Ghat, Kanaka Durga temple authorities have entrusted the task to a private firm at `1.75 lakh per month.
According to temple officials, scores of Bhavani devotees from various parts of the State thronged the Indrakeeladri hill to have darshan of Goddess Kanka Durga after having a holy dip in the Krishna river at Durga Ghat. Several devotees after relinquishing their deeksha left their clothes at the ghat and the environs appeared muddy.
To put an end to this problem, the temple authorities have decided to entrust the task of maintaining sanitation to a private firm and so as to prevent any untoward incidents during annual Bhavani deeksha viramana in December.
‘’Over the years, the number of Bhavani devotees has increased. With the flyover works at the ghat, the the ghat was filled with sand, full of pick pockets and a shortage of changing rooms and causing inconvenience to the devotees.
“To this end, the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam has entrusted the task to maintain cleanliness and sanitation at the ghat round the clock to a private firm,” temple executive officer V Koteswaramma said.
The engineering department officials were directed to design proposals for constructing permanent toilet facility for devotees at the Durgha ghat, she added.