Vijayawada/Guntur: As the deadline for the completion of Pushkaralu works looms, hundreds of workers are struggling to finish the task on hand before Tuesday evening, the muhurtham for auspicious occasion. Arrangements for Harati will begin from Monday under the supervision of film director Boyapati Srinivas. According to officials, the district administration and ministers have been claiming that nearly 98 per cent of the work has been completed so far, but one look at the volume of work pending suggests that the workers face an uphill task.
While work on developing/black-topping roads is still incomplete, paintings the sidewalks is also far from complete. At many places, the shoddiness of the “finished” works is evidence of the hurry to complete the task on hand. The control centre is yet to be completed at the model guesthouse and finishing touches are being done at the ghats. The officials have expressed confidence over the completion of works but doubts over quality remain.
Arrangements for the Harati at Krishna-Godavari confluence at Ibrahimpatnam began two days ago. Officials said that at least two more days are required to ensure all facilities are cross-checked for quality before the numbers can utilise them. Irrigation minister D. Uma Maheswara Rao said that all officials and staff are working day and night and there was no need to worry over their being completed on time.
Meanwhile, work on all the 14 ghats have been completed, including 10 in Gurajala constituency and four in Macherla constituency, in Palnadu region of Guntur, said TD MLA Y. Srinivasa Rao. Mr Rao inspected the ghats on Monday. He said that the government has spent about Rs 150 crore for developing and laying roads to these ghats. Facilities like toilets, dressing rooms etc. have been completed, the MLA said, adding that they expect at least 20 lakh pilgrims to visit these 14 ghats during the 12-day Pushakaralu.
