Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has directed various departments to complete all the works to ensure a successful conduct of the upcoming Attukal Pongala festival.
Considering the drought situation, Kerala Water Authority should efficiently work out a solution to make drinking water available everywhere. Maintenance work on the roads have to be completed by February 28 as the week-long festival is set to begin on March 3, Mr. Vijayan said. He was presiding over a meeting to assess the preparations for the festival.
29 tankers
The Chief Minister said that the Devaswom Minister, the District Collector, and the Mayor should continuously coordinate with the temple trust to ensure smooth running of the festival. The Mayor said that 29 tankers had been arranged for the distribution of drinking water.
For sanitation work, 2,000 workers, in addition to the existing 1,000, would be appointed. Green protocol would be strictly followed. Four ambulances would be available. The public works in 31 wards would be completed, the Mayor said. The KSRTC would run services from various depots in the city to the festival area. Services of a child specialist would be available near the temple to take care of the health of the children taking part in ‘Kuthiyottam.’
The Health Department would open medical centres and oxygen parlours at six locations.
Special trains
Railways would run seven special trains. Six of these would be in the Thiruvananthapuram-Kollam sector and one, in the Thiruvananthapuram-Nagercoil sector. More coaches would be allotted in passenger trains.
