Minister EV Velu chairs meeting ahead of Chitra Pournami at Tiruvannamalai

ublic works, highways and minor ports minister EV Velu on Tuesday chaired a meeting to review the ongoing preparatory works for Chitra Pournamai festival of the Arulmigu Arunachaleswarar temple, at district collectorate in the city.
District collector K Tharpagaraj, MP CN Annadurai, Chengam MLA Giri, SP M Sudhakar, district revenue officer I Ram Pradeepan, DRDA PD Mani, ADSP Satish, revenue divisional officer Rajkumar, corporation commissioner Selva Balaji and other senior officials attended the meeting.
On the occasion of Chitra Pournami day, thousands of devotees flock to the temple. This year, the festival is celebrated from 8:53 pm on May 11 till 10:48 pm on May 12.
The minister said that Chitra Pournami festival is celebrated annually in the district, and the district administration has been creating various facilities to ensure the public have a smooth and hassle-free visit.
Velu directed the city corporation to ensure that toilets are kept clean throughout the festival, and directed the food safety department to ensure that all volunteers who distribute food to devotees during the festival should be registered prior.
He also directed officials to carry out frequent inspections to ensure the quality of products sold at shops around the temple and Girivalam path.
“Information about temporary bus stands should be advertised. So that outsiders do not suffer. Similarly, telecommunication facilities should be improved. Special trains and buses should be operated to ensure smooth travel for the devotees,” he said, directing the regional transport officials to ensure that auto drivers do not levy exorbitant tariffs on passengers.
Police department should deploy sufficient personnel around the temple and Girivalam path to ensure untoward incidents, he said, directing the district administration to arrange basic facilities for police personnel.
Pointing out that Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced the establishment of a separate police station and fire service station at the temple, he said stringent action should be taken against those who involve in anti-social activities on the Girivalam path.
He also directed police officials to inspect hotels and other accommodation facilities in the district, and corporation officials to ensure that surveillance cameras are functioning properly.
While the highways department has set up 14 purified drinking water stations along the Girivalam path, the city corporation has set up two drinking water stations and HR and CE department set up one drinking water station, he said, advising the departments to work together to provide uninterrupted water supply to devotees.
The underground drainage project carried out by the city corporation should not bother the devotees, he said, directing the public health department to set up medical camps with sufficient doctors, and keep emergency vehicles ready.
Fire engines and rescue equipment should also be kept ready, he said, adding that the corporation, rural development and panchayat departments should jointly carry out cleaning work along the Girivalam path.