CUTTACK: The district administration has made elaborate arrangements to ensure that kanwariyas embark on a safe pilgrimage this year.
Collector Sushant Mohapatra has directed the Cuttack Municipal Corporation(CMC), Engineers, police and different departments to take appropriate measures to ensure that kanwariyas face no problem at all.
On a priority basis, the officials of
Mahanadi barrage and south division have been directed to install barricades at the different ghats of Mahanadi and Kathajodi rivers, from where the pilgrims collect holy water to pour at different
Shiva temples, for safety of the kanwariyas.
“As the water level in the rivers is quite high, we have been asked to install barricades within 4 to 4.5 feet at the popular ghats to avoid Kanwariyas from going in deep water,” said an engineer.
The fire officials and ODRAF teams will also be deployed at the Gadagadia, Jobra, ghats that attracts maximum crowd of Kanwariyas. Officials said usually on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays maximum people to turn up to collect water from the ghats as they plan to pour water in the Shiva temples on Monday. Keeping that in mind, the CMC has been directed to install vehicle mounted lights at Gadagadia and other ghats on these three days for benefit of Kanwariyas.
Arrangements for drinking water facility will be made at the ghats while chief district medical officer(CDMO) has been directed to set up health camps at the ghats to eradicate the health problems of the Kanwariyas. Ambulances will also be kept ready to deal with exigency situation while fire officials will be deployed to avoid drowning incidents.
The collector has also directed police to take suitable measures to ensure free flow of traffic on the routes used by the Kanwariyas in the city. Special deployment of traffic personnel will be made on the roads connecting Gadagadia and other ghats to ensure that neither commuters nor the Kanwariyas face any inconvenience.
The CMC has also been directed to ensure sanitation and cleanliness on the river beds so that the Kanwariyas will not face any problem. The decisions were taken in the meeting convened by collector Sushant Mohapatra on Tuesday.
“Every year lakhs of Kanwariyas congregate at Gadagadia and other ghats in the city and start their holy journey. To provide all necessary facilities to them is our duty,” said Mohapatra.
