Directs administration to be ready 15 days in advance
CM Pramod Sawant and others visited Shirgao and inspected key locations related to the festival arrangements on Thursday.
Bicholim
In view of the upcoming Shirgao Zatra festival, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has directed the administration to ensure that all arrangements are completed at least 15 days in advance this year. He also instructed officials to take every possible precaution to prevent accidents during the festival.
On Thursday morning, Sawant, along with MLA Premendra Shet, visited Shirgao and inspected key locations related to the festival arrangements. Accompanied by officials from various departments, members of the temple committee and local residents, he reviewed the temple premises, the Homkund area, the Tala-Tali areas and the road where a stampede had occurred last year.
Those present during the inspection included District Collector Ankit Yadav, Deputy Collector Shubham Naik, Mamlatdar Shailendra Desai, Police Inspector Vijay Rane, Temple Committee President Dinanath Gaonkar, committee members and other government officials.
The Chief Minister said the government is deeply concerned about the safety of devotees and that detailed plans will be implemented to maintain law and order, manage traffic and provide essential facilities. He stressed that the administration must remain alert and fully prepared and appealed to devotees to cooperate with the authorities.
Referring to last year’s tragic incident, Sawant said it was extremely unfortunate and assured that the government is determined to ensure such incidents do not happen again. He added that preparations for the festival had already begun six months ago.
