With sports events and entertainment programmes, the district administration plans to make this year’s ‘Saaral Tiruvizha’ at Courtallam memorable for visitors.
Chairing a meeting held at the Collectorate here on Monday to deliberate on preparations for conducting the festival, Collector M. Karunakaran sought the cooperation of all government departments. He said that police must ensure peace and prevent consumption of liquor in open places, as directed by the High Court. Movement of antisocial elements in the falls area should be curbed by monitoring the situation round the clock through surveillance cameras installed at various spots.
Hassle-free movement of vehicles, particularly on holidays, should be ensured in Courtallam by regulating the traffic. Encroachments on roads should be removed by the revenue and town panchayat officials with police protection, he said.
Dr. Karunakaran directed the town panchayat officials to be stern in preventing sale and use of non-recyclable plastic products across the town, and soaps, shampoos and detergents in the waterfalls. Removal of garbage from bins should be carried out periodically.
“The police and other officials should ensure that exorbitant parking fee is not collected from visitors. Those collecting parking fee should wear uniform and display identity card. If exorbitant parking fee is collected, immediate action should be taken against the contractor,” Dr. Karunakaran said.
He directed the health officials and the Designated Officer for Food Safety to ensure that eatables were prepared under hygienic conditions and sold at the right price.
The Collector informed that Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu would conduct cycling, marathon, swimming, boat race, chess and volleyball competitions for the visitors. Cultural troupes from various parts of the country would stage performances at Kalaivanar Kalaiyarangam in the evening, he added.
District Revenue Officer M.G. Kulandaivel, Revenue Divisional Officer, Tenkasi, S. Venkatesh, and others participated in the meeting.
