Three senior Ministers and a slew of government secretaries descended on Kumbakonam on Saturday to take stock of the operational preparedness of the official machinery in meeting the demands of the Mahamaham festival scheduled for February next. The field visit by the high-level committee of secretaries and the Ministers was followed up with an extensive review of the ongoing works by various government departments in and around Kumbakonam.
Housing and Agriculture Minister R. Vaithilingam, Food and Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister R. Kamaraj and Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development S.P. Velumani spoke to officials about the Mahamaham preparations.
The bureaucratic contingent was led by Chief Secretary K. Gnanadesikan and included among its ranks PWD Secretary N.S. Palaniappan, Food Secretary Shiv Das Meena, HR & CE Secretary K. Arulmozhi, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department Secretary K. Phanindra Reddy, Rural Development Secretary Gagandeep Sigh Bedi, Information Secretary M. Rajaram, HR & CE Commissioner M. Veerashanmugamoni and Director of Rural Development K. Baskaran as also Thanjavur Collector N. Subbaiyan.
Speaking at the review, Mr. Gnanadesikan directed the officials to ensure that all Mahamaham related infrastructure and development works are completed ahead of time to provide the best facilities to lakhs of pilgrims expected to throng the temple town during the festival period. The Chief Secretary pointed out that adequate funds have been allotted for the development work in various sectors and added that money would not be a constraint in meeting the demands of pilgrims during Mahamaham.
Earlier, the Ministers and officials inspected Asoor bye pass where a temporary bus stand is to be established, Municipal Cattle Pound where officials’ vehicles are to be parked and the Mahamaham tank which is the focus of attention.
