Priority Given to Health Facilities and Cleanliness for Devotees During Kartiki Yatra – Divisional Commissioner Dr. Chandrakant Pulkundwar

Solapur : During the Kartiki Yatra, millions of devotees from various districts across the state and neighboring states come to seek the blessings of Lord Vithal and Rukmini. Kartiki Ekadashi falls on November 12, 2024, and the yatra period is from November 2 to 15, 2024. Divisional Commissioner Dr. Chandrakant Pulkundwar has instructed that immediate measures be taken to prioritize health facilities and cleanliness for the devotees arriving during this period.

A meeting regarding the planning of the Kartiki Yatra was held at the District Collector’s office, Planning Bhavan. The meeting was attended by District Collector Kumar Ashirwad, Chief Executive Officer Kuldeep Jangam, District Police Superintendent Atul Kulkarni, Additional Police Superintendent Pritam Kumar Yawal, District Planning Officer Dilip Pawar, District Health Officer Santosh Nawle, Sub-Divisional Officer Sachin Ithape, Executive Officer of the Temple Committee Rajendra Shelke, Chief Officer Prashant Jadhav, and other departmental heads.

To ensure the successful and smooth conduct of the Kartiki Yatra, it is essential that the relevant government agencies maintain effective coordination and carry out their responsibilities diligently. The municipality must provide additional sanitation staff, ensure toilet cleanliness, and arrange ample drinking water facilities during the yatra. The police administration should prioritize the safety of the devotees, while the temple committee should appoint additional security personnel. The temple committee must conduct structural audits, fire audits, and electrical audits of the temporary flyovers set up for the darshan queues. Divisional Commissioner Dr. Pulkundwar also emphasized that the facilities provided during the Ashadhi Yatra should be similarly available during the Kartiki Yatra.

District Collector Kumar Ashirwad mentioned that the municipality should promptly fill potholes in the city and ensure that there are no encroachments in the Chandrabhaga sand dunes. Barricades should be placed where necessary, and the Food and Drug Administration should appoint additional teams to inspect food items and prasadalaya shops.

Chief Executive Officer Mr. Jangam stated that arrangements have been made to ensure immediate health facilities for devotees during the Kartiki Yatra, including an adequate supply of medicines and an increased number of medical centers and bike ambulances, along with the appointment of expert doctors. Additionally, since there will be a significant animal market at Wakhri during the Kartiki Yatra, veterinary teams have been deployed for animal treatment.

At this meeting, Sub-Divisional Officer Sachin Ithape provided information about the facilities that the administration will offer during the Kartiki Yatra. Temple Committee Executive Officer Rajendra Shelke stated that appropriate planning has been done to ensure a swift and pleasant darshan for the devotees. Chief Officer Prashant Jadhav mentioned that the municipality would ensure the availability of clean drinking water, appoint additional seasonal sanitation staff, maintain cleanliness in the riverbed, provide temporary toilet facilities, and make all necessary arrangements available to devotees in the 65-acre area.