Mock drill to be conducted on April 18 night
District Collector Ankit Yadav inspecting the fair arrangements at Shirgao, along with Temple Committee President Dinnanath Gaonkar, Deputy Collector Shubham Naik, Deputy Superintendent Shridevi, Police Inspector Vijay Rane, and other officials.
BICHOLIM
With the famous Devi Lairai fair at Shirgao barely a few days away, District Collector Ankit Yadav conducted an inspection of the preparations on Tuesday afternoon to review the implementation of various guidelines issued by the home department and the State government.
Senior officials from multiple departments were present during the visit.
Speaking to the media after the inspection, the district collector informed that a mock drill will be conducted on the night of April 18.
He further stated that only a limited number of stalls will be permitted at the fair, and strict compliance with the rules will be ensured. As a large number of devotees are expected to attend, special care is being taken to ensure that no obstructions are caused on the roads.
As per the Home Department’s directives, strict regulations have been imposed in the fair area. Arrangements are being made through coordination among departments such as traffic, water supply, fire services, public works, and the police, keeping in mind the safety of devotees.
Those present during the inspection included Temple Committee President Dinnanath Gaonkar, Deputy Collector Shubham Naik, Mamlatdar Shailendra Desai, Deputy Superintendent Shridevi, Police Inspector Vijay Rane Sardesai, and officials from various departments.
In view of the unfortunate incident that occurred last year, extra precautions are being taken this year. Planning meetings have been ongoing for the past six months at the government level.
To ensure smooth darshan for devotees, separate queues will be arranged, along with proper systems for access to the sacred pond for bathing and for visiting the homkhund.
The district collector appealed to all devotees to follow the rules and cooperate with the administration.
Meanwhile, Temple Committee President Dinnanath Gaonkar stated that all government guidelines will be strictly followed. He appealed to devotees to participate in large numbers, but to maintain discipline and avoid any rush while taking darshan.
