Ministers PTR Palanivel Thiyaga Rajan and P. Murthy chaired a review meeting on Chithirai festival in Madurai on Monday. , Photo Credit: Murthy ji
Ensuring basic amenities to the public, security precautions, regulation of traffic and parking, installation and monitoring of adequate number of CCTV cameras were some of the major issues discussed at the review meeting held at the Madurai Collectorate for Chithirai festival on Monday.
Commercial Taxes and Registration Minister P. Murthy and Finance and Human Resource Management Minister PTR Palnivel Thiyaga Rajan presided over the meeting, which was attended by Collector S. Anish Shekhar and officials from various government departments participated.
Shri Tyaga Rajan informed the officials that a large number of people and devotees are expected from all over the country and abroad for the Chithirai festival to be held in Madurai. He said that necessary steps should be taken to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival.
Pointing to the tragic incident of stampede last year in which two pilgrims were killed, he said that security precautions should be improved and necessary steps should be taken to ensure that such incidents do not happen. Police should take steps towards traffic regulation and parking of vehicles. Adequate number of police personnel should be deployed at the venue and adequate CCTV cameras should be installed. He said that surveillance should be increased.
The ministers urged the officials to thoroughly check the passes given to the pilgrims. A strict vigil should be kept on the routes of the procession. He said that it should be ensured that low level power lines were identified and precautionary measures were taken.
Apart from the arrangements, the ministers urged the authorities to take steps to ensure that basic amenities like drinking water and toilet facilities are available to the public. He said that adequate medical teams should be deployed and medical teams from Government Rajaji Hospital should be kept ready for any emergency.
He urged the officials to work together to ensure that the Chithirai festival is conducted smoothly. Mayor Indirani Ponvasant, Commissioner of Police KS Narenthiran Nair, Corporation Commissioner Simranjit Singh Kahlon, Additional Collector (Development) S Saravanan, Deputy Mayor T Nagarajan, Revenue Officers, Deputy Commissioner of Temples and other government officials were present on the occasion.