Preparations on for Chithirai festival

Officials attend meeting, discuss requirements 

Ahead of the fortnight-long Chithirai festival, which is expected to be witnessed by about a million people from far and near, the district administration convened a preliminary meeting attended by officials from various departments on the requirements ranging from basic needs to infrastructural facilities.

District Collector L. Subramanian, who presided over the meeting discussed the role and duties of each department and their level of preparedness. The annual festival would begin from April 30. At a time, when drinking water was posing to be a big problem across Madurai city and peripheries, the allocation for the festival was discussed in detail.

The alternative arrangements and the mode of supply was listed out by the Corporation officials.

Owing to the dwindling level of water in the Vaigai dam, water would not be released for the spectacle of Lord Kallazhagar’s descent into the Vaigai on May 14, Mr. Subramanian said. “A small pit will be dug and filled with water which will be used during the ceremony,” he explained.

Stating that there would be mass movement of people, he said that a large posse of policemen and officials would be deployed to keep a check on instances of theft and pick-pocketing.

City Health Officer Yasodha Mani stated that additional sanitation workers would be deployed around the temple during the days of the festival. “Garbage will be cleared systematically and sanitation facilities will be in place in the areas surrounding the temple,” she said.

The Collector directed the Health Department to set up temporary dispensaries to administer first aid in the event of any emergency and treat cases of dehydration and sunstroke. In addition to this, the Health department will also have ambulances on standby.

While many people will organise ‘annadhaanams’ or public distribution of food during the festival, Food Safety Officials (FSO) will test them if distribution was on a large scale.

Speaking about the transport facilities in place, Mr. Subramanian said that the transport department would operate additional buses for the benefit of the devotees who will travel from mofussil areas to the city.