The district administration is planning to come up with a comprehensive plan to avoid traffic congestion on Kannur Road during the 55th State School Arts Festival, since the main venue will be the Malabar Christian College School ground.
A meeting chaired by District Collector C.A. Latha here on Tuesday discussed the possibility of diverting the traffic on the particular stretch through Beach Road. Traffic will be regulated on the roads along other venues as well. The Collector directed the officials concerned to arrange enough parking space at the venues. Traffic congestion would make it difficult for the participants to reach the venues on time. Large-scale parking arrangements could be made at the beach. Passes would be provided for official vehicles, she said at a review meeting to analyse the duties of various departments during the festival.
A grand procession as part of the inauguration of the festival would start from the Muthalakkulam ground and conclude at the Malabar Christian College ground. Adequate police and Fire and Rescue Services Department personnel would be posted at all the 18 venues.
‘Ensure food quality’The Collector directed the Civil Supplies Department to stay on alert to ensure the quality of the food distributed to children. The food committee should ensure that the food was supplied to everyone on time. Steps should be taken to avoid food poisoning, she added. Facilities to provide first aid would be set up at all venues. Services of an ambulance and a set of doctors, including cardiologists, would be made available at the important venues. Efforts would be made to dispose of all waste, including plastic, with the help of the Corporation’s Kudumbasree Community Development Societies (CDSs), National Service Scheme (NSS), Scouts, and Student Police Cadets.
Police personnel would be posted at places where accommodation and sanitation facilities for the participants were being arranged. Drinking water would be brought in tankers from Mavoor and Moozhikkal.
Kozhikode Mayor A.K. Premajam said that the Kerala State Electricity Board officials had been requested to avoid power cuts at all venues and participants’ accommodation. The Excise Department had been asked to stay on alert to check the supply of unauthorised substances, including drugs. The Fire and Rescue Services would be in charge of managing dust problem at the venues.
Director of Public Instruction Gopalakrishna Bhat, Deputy Director of Education Gireesh Cholayil, and Assistant Commissioner (North) of Police Josy Cherian, besides representatives of various departments, took part in the meeting.
Meanwhile, Mayor A.K. Premajam, who is also the chairperson of the festival organising committee, boycotted the morning session of the review meeting, claiming that she was not invited.
