KURNOOL: Aalmi Tabiliqi Ijtima, said to be a congregation of Muslims, which will be organised at Kurnool from December 8 for three days, has been putting forward challenges to the district administration.
Organisers said that 12 lakh people have confirmed about participating in the Ijtima. People, almost three times the size of Kurnool city’s population, is about to congregate in the outskirts, near Nannur Toll Plaza, putting up a hard task on the district administration to allocate resources such as water, easement etc.
The Ijtema is to be held in 1,200 acre open lands. “Around 25,000 makeshift toilets have been set up,” an organiser said. The state government sanctioned '10 crores. Around 1,000 scavengers have been deployed by the administration.
Traffic DSP C.M. Gangaiah said that 1,000 Muslim youth were trained in traffic regulation to enable smooth flow of vehicles. A parking lot has been earmarked in a 500 acre plot, adjoining the main venue, where 800 buses and 80,000 vehicles could be parked. On the challenges that lie ahead, Gangaiah said that we are geared up to take the hit as we expect heavy flow on the first day on December 8 and the last day on December 10.
He said that a strategy has been worked out to avoid stampede like situations. Municipal commissioner C.B. Harinath Reddy said that water, sanitation and civic facilities for the visitors will be worked out. A committee has been formed under the directive of the district collector.
TRANSCO has been overseeing power supply while Rural Water Scheme (RWS) officials were entrusted with water supplies. Water is being pumped from Handri Neeva, an organiser said.
“The venue of the Ijtema was so chosen as the KC Canal skirts it, giving several tapping points for water,” he said. Asked to comment on the congregation of 12 lakhs in Kurno-ol, which was unprecedented, a government official said that the elections are just round the corner. “Politicians do not want to antagonise religious requests. Whether a city of Kurnool’s size can accommodate such a massive gathering or not was not on the dash board of leaders,” he added.
Tourism Minister Bhuma Akhila Priya asked officials in her department to extend all possible service to make the three-day stay of guests comfortable.
Health minister N.M.D Farooq is in the drivers’ seat, leveraging the God sent opportunity to serve the guests in the most happiest manner. Deputy Chief Minister K.E. Krishna Moorthy has extended all support.
