RAJAHMUNDRY: Stating that the state government was ready to improve the facilities and amenities provided to the pilgrims participating in the ongoing Godavari Maha Pushkaralu (GMP) no matter what the financial burden, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has once again urged the officials to ensure that no inconvenience is caused to the pilgrims and appealed to the latter to observe self-discipline / self-regulation.
Speaking to newsmen at the central control room here on Saturday, the CM said that while the officials had to assist the pilgrims in all respects, the latter should cooperate with them to ensure the smooth and successful conduct of the mega event.
Stating that as many as 171 closed circuit cameras had been installed at various places in the city to monitor the situation, he added that it would be monitored and controlled from the control room. Ministers and senior officers would be involved in this, he said.
The CM said that the District Collectors of Visakhapatnam, Ktrishna, East and West Godavari had been directed to arrange transit camps for the pilgrims on the borders to ‘detain’ the pilgrims there until the rush at the main GMP towns, including Rajahmundry, was cleared. He said that TABS had been provided to the ghat in-charges and trainee IAS and IPS officers posted at the ghats to enable them to count the number of pilgrims taking the holy dip in the river on an hourly basis. Naidu said that as much as 15,000 cusecs of water was being released daily from the Sileru dam reservoir into River Godavari to maintain the water level at the bathing ghats and added that the same would be continued up to July 25 - the last day of the GMP. Stating that special care had been taken to prevent the outbreak of water-borne diseases, he added that the pilgrims could take bath in the river at any ghat at any time.
He said that Municipal Corporation of Rajahmndry was supplying drinking water and providing water at the toilets as per requirement. He added that the sanitation staff engaged by the MCR and the Fisheries Department, along with the Fire Services personnel, was cleaning the ghats as well as the ritual platforms every 20 minutes.
The CM said that the government was mulling grant of subsidies to the organizations distributing food.
He urged the SCR officials to avoid late running of trains and provide all facilities to the pilgrims at the railway stations immediately.