Endowments Department Principal Secretary J.S.V. Prasad has directed the Roads and Buildings, Irrigation departments and the Municipal Corporation of Rajahmundry (MCR) to expedite Godavari Pushkaram works.
Mr. Prasad admitted that the works were progressing at a slow pace.
Addressing a review meeting of Collectors, Municipal Commissioners, Superintending Engineers and senior police officers of East and West Godavari districts on Thursday, Mr. Prasad said the government accorded top priority to sanitation, Pushkaram was a national event attracting lakhs of people from various parts of the country.
He directed Gammon India limited to complete the fourth bridge across the Godavari by the first week of April and asked the R&B Department to coordinate with the National Highways Authority on the matter.
He clarified that officials should not delay work for want of black mettle, and Collectors of the two districts should sort out the problem immediately.
RTC services
The Principal Secretary said the APSRTC would operate 2,000 services in the two districts, mostly in East Godavari, and four temporary bus stations would be set up in Rajahmundry.
Top priority will be given to individual sanitary latrines (ISL) with focus on villages along the Godavari, and all schools and colleges in the pushkaram areas would be provided with toilet facilities so that these buildings could be used for providing accommodation to duty staff.
He directed the Transport Department to fix auto-rickshaw charges and to train drivers to behave politely to pilgrims. Nearly 3,000 swimmers and 494 boats will be used for the safety of pilgrims at the ghats. He also directed them to construct a new ghat at Rajahmundry for the visiting VIPs.
Endowments Department Commissioner Y.V. Anuradha said to provide medical facilities to pilgrims, necessary proposals to upgrade PHCS could be sent to government. The officials can use the services of private medical agencies during this period. B. Ramanjaneyulu Commissioner, PR & RD, said all the villages in Godavari river areas should have Individual sanction Latrines, solid waste management and usage of LED for street lighting.
