Longer wait at Toilets than temple

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Follow us:WhatsappFacebookTwitterTelegram.cls-1{fill:#4d4d4d;}.cls-2{fill:#fff;}Google NewsLack of adequate facilities at the bathing ghats on the Krishna, at the foothill of Indrakeeladri hill shrine as well as at the temple where devotees throng to have a darshan of goddess Kanaka Durga, have posed grave hardships for people visiting the temple.There are only 12 toilets at the Kanaka Durga bathing ghat for thousands of devotees who take the holy dip before the darshan. Longer queues are found at the toilets than at the temple."Though the problem has been there for quite some time, the temple authorities have failed to find any solution," Gurana Satyam, a devotee said.The sanitary conditions at the ghat are very poor and one can find heaps of garbage lying around. "The only time ghat premises are kept clean is when there is a VIP visit, or when there is a special occassion like Durgashtami and Bhavani Diksha," Penuguthi Venkata Ramana, another devotee said.A priest at the temple alleged that the shed under which some rituals (Karmas) are performed is ready to collapse. But the officials are hardly bothered about it. "No one knows when it is going to collapse, but we have to perform the karmas under the shelter ever day" he lamented.Lack of proper security has led to thefts becoming a routine affair. If any untoward incident takes place, neither the temple authorities nor the security wing is prepared to tackle it. Though there are special protection force (SPF) personnel, along with the local police, stationed on top of the hill, there are allegations that protection is provided only to the VIPs.Making the security situation worse, no vehicle is checked at the entrance of the hill and the metal detectors at the temple are kept only for show. "They are not being utilised by the security staff at the temple and they allow the devotees and their bags without checking them," said P Srikanth, a pilgrim.There are also no proper medical facilities at the medical centre located at the temple. Another devotee, Navalapu Subhadra, alleged that there are no doctors or nurses to treat the devotees in case of an emergency.Speaking to Express, the temple executive officer M Raghunadh said that because there is no proper drainage system at the ghat, it was not possible to construct new toilets. "But we are directing the devotees to use the toilets at Kanaka Durga Nagar near the ghat. There are 50 toilets and workers have been employed to maintain good sanitary conditions," he added.Commenting on the lodging facilities, he said the construction of new rooms at Jammidoddi has been completed.first published:August 13, 2012, 10:20 ISTlast updated:August 13, 2012, 10:20 IST
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Lack of adequate facilities at the bathing ghats on the Krishna, at the foothill of Indrakeeladri hill shrine as well as at the temple where devotees throng to have a darshan of goddess Kanaka Durga, have posed grave hardships for people visiting the temple.

There are only 12 toilets at the Kanaka Durga bathing ghat for thousands of devotees who take the holy dip before the darshan. Longer queues are found at the toilets than at the temple.

"Though the problem has been there for quite some time, the temple authorities have failed to find any solution," Gurana Satyam, a devotee said.

The sanitary conditions at the ghat are very poor and one can find heaps of garbage lying around. "The only time ghat premises are kept clean is when there is a VIP visit, or when there is a special occassion like Durgashtami and Bhavani Diksha," Penuguthi Venkata Ramana, another devotee said.

A priest at the temple alleged that the shed under which some rituals (Karmas) are performed is ready to collapse. But the officials are hardly bothered about it. "No one knows when it is going to collapse, but we have to perform the karmas under the shelter ever day" he lamented.

Lack of proper security has led to thefts becoming a routine affair. If any untoward incident takes place, neither the temple authorities nor the security wing is prepared to tackle it. Though there are special protection force (SPF) personnel, along with the local police, stationed on top of the hill, there are allegations that protection is provided only to the VIPs.

Making the security situation worse, no vehicle is checked at the entrance of the hill and the metal detectors at the temple are kept only for show. "They are not being utilised by the security staff at the temple and they allow the devotees and their bags without checking them," said P Srikanth, a pilgrim.

There are also no proper medical facilities at the medical centre located at the temple. Another devotee, Navalapu Subhadra, alleged that there are no doctors or nurses to treat the devotees in case of an emergency.

Speaking to Express, the temple executive officer M Raghunadh said that because there is no proper drainage system at the ghat, it was not possible to construct new toilets. "But we are directing the devotees to use the toilets at Kanaka Durga Nagar near the ghat. There are 50 toilets and workers have been employed to maintain good sanitary conditions," he added.

Commenting on the lodging facilities, he said the construction of new rooms at Jammidoddi has been completed.