All necessary steps are being taken by the State government for organising the annual ‘Chithirai Thiruvizha’ in Madurai, Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments P.K. Sekarbabu said in the Assembly on Tuesday.
Responding to Tirumangalam legislator R.B. Udhayakumar, who raised the issue during Question Hour, Mr. Sekarbabu said several measures had been taken to ensure the safety and security of the devotees attending the event.
CCTVs were being installed in 20 locations; mobile ambulances would be stationed in 40 places; drinking water facilities were being set up in 50 locations; toilet facilities were being readied in 40 places; and over 3,000 police personnel were to be deployed for crowd management, Mr. Sekarbabu said.
Last Sunday, a meeting to review the arrangements being made for the event was held in Madurai, and Minister for Registration P. Moorthy and Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, both of whom hailed from Madurai district, took part in it, he said.
Raising a supplementary question, Papanasam MLA M.H. Jawahirullah requested the State government to install lifts in Swaminatha Swamy temple at Swamimalai in his constituency for the benefit of elderly devotees. Mr. Sekarbabu said officials would soon inspect the site to explore the feasibility of the same.