Hyderabad: Going by the execution of plans at the ground-level, the Telangana government seems to be ill-prepared for the Godavari Pushkaralu in July.
Despite claims of holding the first Pushkaralu in TS along the lines of the “Kumbh Mela”, no action plan has been prepared to deal with the huge rush of pilgrims and to complete the works by June, before the onset of monsoon.
Over 6 crore pilgrims are expected to attend the Pushkaralu.
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had sought Rs 750 crore in aid from the Centre, but not a single rupee has been given so far.
The endowments department is struggling to deal with the arrangements with the funds allotted by the state government. Though the government has sanctioned nearly Rs 500 crore, hardly Rs 200 crore has been spent so far due to delay in execution of works. The places for constructing separate bathing ghats and changing rooms for women are yet to be identified.
The other major problem being faced is land acquisition near major temples along the Godavari River in Nizamabad, Adilabad, Karimnagar, Warangal and Khammam districts.
These temples have limited lands, insufficient to create facilities for the huge number of pilgrims, and the government needs to acquire private lands. Once the rainy season starts in June, it will be difficult to take up the works, which means only over a month is left to ensure everything falls in place.
“We had sent a detailed project report to the Centre in March seeking '750 crore. The CM also met the PM but the Centre is yet to give approval,” said endowments minister A. Indra Karan Reddy.
