Having allotted dates for organising ‘jallikattu’ as part of Pongal festivities at various villages, the district administration has clearly spelt out the guidelines to be strictly adhered to by the organising committees of the traditional sport while conducting the event.
This time around the administration authorities have also clearly spelt out the required steps to be taken by government departments concerned ahead of the event. The organising committees have been instructed to organise jallikattu in an open ground and ensure that the participating bulls were not injected with enhancement drugs or irritants. They have also been told that permission would be accorded by the district administration for conducting the event only if the arrangements were completed minimum 24 hours ahead of conducting the traditional sport.
Information pertaining to the number of participating bulls and tamers should be conveyed well in advance in order to obtain advance permission.
The committees should also put up shamiana or temporary roof at collection point and the spot where animals were subjected to medical examination so as to protect the bulls from rains or extreme heat.
Official sources said separate instructions have been given to the Revenue, Public Works Department, Fire and Rescue Services, Health, Animal Husbandry and Police departments regarding the required steps they needed to take ahead of the event to ensure that the traditional sport was organised as per guidelines.
One among the key instructions to the Public Works department is that they should ensure double barricading along the arena to prevent onlookers from entering the ground when the event was on. They have also been asked to ensure that an emergency exit be provided near the venue to shift the injured animal or tamer for immediate medical attention.
The police have been asked to provide due deployment of personnel so that the bulls do not enter residential localities. The law enforcers have also been asked to ensure that there was no crowding on the stage beyond the permitted level.
The Animal Husbandry department officials have been asked to ensure that the participating bulls were not injected with drugs. The 16 villages where jallikattu is planned to be organised on different dates include Suriyur (January 15), Aavarangaadu (January 16), Pothamettupatti (January 18) and Karungulam (January 28).
Meanwhile, Collector K. Rajamani inspected Suriyur village to get a first hand account of the arrangements put in place for holding the traditional sport. In an interaction with reporters after inspection, Mr. Rajamani said teams comprising officials from various departments were carrying out inspection at the respective villages where the event was planned to be organised.
The event would be held at 16 villages in the district, he said adding that requests for holding the event at new places have been examined and recommended to the State government to obtain approval.
The Collector was accompanied by Superintendent of Police P.S.C. Kalyan and officials from different departments, a press release said.
