Rs 60 crore for Medaram Jatara

HYDERABAD: Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has directed officials to complete all preparations for the Sammakka Saralamma Jatara at Medaram 15 days ahead of the commencement of the four-day festivities on February 8 next.Speaking at a review meeting here on Monday, he agreed to release Rs 60 crore through various departments for the preparations.The Medaram Jatara, conducted once in two years, is declared a state festival and is considered to be the biggest tribal festival in the country. There are two gaddelu (thrones), one for Sammakka Devata and another for Saralamma Devata. Last year (2010) about 70 to 80 lakh pilgrims visited Medaram, the venue of the jatara, and the expected pilgrim flow in 2012 is about 80 to 90 lakh.The idol of Saralamma will be carried from Kannepally and installed on the gadde at 4 pm on February 8, and Sammakka will be brought from Devata Gutta and installed on the gadde at 5 pm on the following day.Darshan to pilgrims will be on February 10 and Ammavarala Vana Pravesham in the afternoon of February 11.The chief minister asked the district collector to send proposals on the works to be immediately undertaken and the funds required.Safe drinking water should be made available and enough precautions taken to ensure good quality of food and sanitation. He wanted provisions and vegetables made available at reasonable prices, and proper medical facilities with adequate quantity of medicine and required number of doctors and paramedical staff created.The chief minister asked the APSRTC to run adequate number of buses.The RTC managing director assured to run 3,000 buses and operate about 38,000 services to and from all neighbouring districts. The the district superintendent of police was directed to deploy the required number of policemen for effective security.