Separate authorities for 'Shrawni' mela in Jharkhand

Ranchi, Jul 30 (UNI) Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda today said the state government would form separate authorities to look into the affairs of 'Shrawani' mela in the state.

Mr Koda, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Sudhir Mahto, inaugurated the mela at Dumma, the bordering area of Deoghar district.

Later, speaking to media persons, he said the mela authorities would be responsible for the smooth functioning of the mega event, organised every year.

Mr Koda said providing facilities to the devotees coming from all parts of the country and abroad was the priority of the government and steps were being taken in this direction.

He said the government had planned to build queue-houses at an expenditure of about Rs 50 crore in view of the long queues of Kanwarias outside the temple premises.

The government was considering the project, prepared by Larsen and Tubro, he said adding it could accomodate about 50,000 Kanwarias in the queue-houses at a time.

District Superintendent of Police Manoj Kaushik said a bomb disposal squad and a Quick Reaction Team (QRT) had been deployed at the Baidyananth Dham temple for the security of the temple as well as visitors.

He said CCTVs had been installed at various locations, adding this time Kanwarias would have to pass through two-layer security system - the first about 100 mt before the temple and the second at the entrance - where metal detectors had been installed.

Armed forces and volunteers had been deployed at the administrative camps, established on the Kanwaria path, he added.

UNI