Medaram yet to gear up for jatara

Medaram (Warangal): With little over three weeks left for the start of the major tribal four-day biennial fiesta - Sammakka Saralakka jatara, the first after formation of Telangana, devotees made a beeline to Medaram in Tadwai mandal of Warangal on Sunday. If the devotee rush on Sunday is any precursor, the devotees have their task cut out when they turn to real fiesta that begins on February 17.

Although crores of rupees have been spent so far, but the works like any other previous jatara, are still in progress and it apppears that this may continue till the eleventh hour. To address water problem permanently, the authorities are constructing a series of check dams across Jampannavagu near Padigapur, Reddygudem, Medaram and urattam villages at an estimated cost of Rs 19 crore.

Although the administration claims that construction would be completed before the jatara, the pace of ongoing works is far from satisfactory. On the other hand, the laying of granite slabs and the repair works are still continuing. With works in progress and the leftover of metal and sand all over, the temple precincts are giving a terrible look besides causing immense problems for the devotees while they were entering into the sanctum sanctorum.

Against this backdrop, the administration on Monday is expected to finalise a few measures for the benefit of devotees. It is learnt that the District Collector Vakati Karuna had instructed the officials to make arrangements to provide Rs 20 a meal to the devotees during the jatara. Efforts are on to rope in tribal societies to set up at least five to six canteens at different points. A decision in this regard will be finalised on Monday, according to officials.

ITDA project office D Amay Kumar said: “Almost all the arrangements at Sammaka Saralakka Gadde will be completed by January-end. The allotment of Jaggery, liquor and other shops have been finalised.” Meanwhile, State-owned telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has decided to provide WiFi facility at Medaram.

The facility will be provided by the BSNL in coordination with the QuadGen, a WiFi solution firm that has been providing free internet to people at Hussainsagar lake in Hyderabad. It may be mentioned that the State Government has sanctioned Rs 172.54 crore for arrangements towards the jatara J Ravi, an art director in Tollywood, who took his family to Medaram, said: "I am here ahead of next month's jatara to avoid rush.

But, today it was like a mini jatara with thousands of cars descending on this little village." He doubted what it would be next month when devotees in lakhs arrive at Medaram.