City admn geared up to ensure Girnar parikrama's success

22-10-2009
City admn geared up to ensure Girnar parikrama's success
Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/City-admn-geared-up-to-ensure-Girnar-parikramas-success/articleshow/5150224.cms

Pilgrims climbing their way up to mount Girnar will be treated with glasses of milk and water, while emergency medical services in makeshift hospitals will be on stand by during annual event of Girnar parikrama (pilgrimage).

The parikrama from October 29 to November 2 is an annual event in Kartik month of the Hindu calendar, when devotees beat 36 km of rough mountain terrain and jungles of mount Girnar by foot, to visit various religious spots along the way. To make this journey a smooth-sailing affair for devotees, the district administration leaves no stone unturned.

"The entire route of the parikrama has been personally inspected by district collector Ashwini Kumar, deputy conservator of forest Anita Karne and forest staff. An emergency meeting was held in which several orders regarding maintaining health and other facilities for the pilgrims were issued," said a district administrative official.

The administration decided to put up milk distributing centres at 13 places in Jhinabava Ni Madhi, Marvela, Bordevi, Itanva Ni Ghodi and Nalpani Na Besna places along the route of the parikrama.

"There will also be drinking water points erected at 36 places on the route by Junagadh Municipal Corporation. That apart, seven makeshift hospitals, four emergency ambulance services and four mobile units will be pressed into service to meet any eventuality during the event," said the official.

Junagadh RTO will be plying an extra 130 buses to ferry pilgrims from the city to Bhavnath, the starting point of the parikrama, while Western Railway, Junagadh division will be adding an extra four coaches to every Junagadh-bound train. There will also be a special train for Satadhar.

Junagadh fire brigade has been ordered to stand guard round-the-clock in the event of fire fighting to prevent any mishap on the parikrama route. Meanwhile, the forest department has urged pilgrims to stick to the route charted for them, in order not to protect environment and not to disturb wildlife.