JOIN USIn an effort to prevent any outbreak of epidemic diseases during the conglomeration of devotees during the car festival on April 1, the district administration has decided to ban distribution of buttermilk and panaka during the festival.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the Revenue and District-Incharge Minister V Srinivas Prasad, at Dasoha Bhavan of Srikanteshwara Swamy Temple here on Friday.
The minister expressed concern whether the roads can withstand the 110 tonnes weight of the huge chariot, the piece-de-resistance of the festival. PWD Executive Engineer Raju explained that roads have been repaired and strengthened further ruling out the chances of caving in during the festival.
The minister directed the officials to provide basic amenities to the devotees.
The locals raised concern over the ‘Gautama Ratha’ (The wooden made car that will carry the idol of Srikanteshwara Swamy) that is exposed to rain and sun throughout the year. The 1.5 km stretch of ‘Ratha Beedhi’ (the road where the car will be drawn through from temple and back) has turned worse due to constant digging to take up UGD works.
However the minister assured that with the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announcing Rs 400 crore for the development of six popular temples in the State, Srikanteshwara temple will be upgraded at an estimated cost of Rs 66 crore. A meeting would be convened after the festival to decide over the second phase of works, he added.
The works include construction of additional rest rooms for the devotees, gopura, bathing ghat at Kapila river and shops.