Medaram Jatara works miss deadline in Mulugu
MULUGU: Work related to the Sammakka Saralamma Maha Jatara at Medaram in Tadvai mandal of Mulugu district is progressing slowly, raising concerns ahead of the government-set deadline of September 24.
Deadline nears, progress remains slow
The state government has been treating the tribal festival as a prestige project and sanctioned all funds sought by officials. Permanent infrastructure works were also taken up this year. However, with the deadline fast approaching, ground-level progress has fallen short of expectations.
Ministers Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, Danasari Anasuya Seethakka, Konda Surekha and Adluri Laxman have visited Medaram several times and instructed officials to speed up works. Despite this, execution has remained sluggish.
Drinking water, toilets not ready
The government sanctioned ₹13 crore for drinking water supply and sanitation for devotees. While over 40 days remain for the Maha Jatara, nearly 20,000 devotees are already visiting Medaram daily.
Officials are yet to begin drinking water arrangements. Devotees are being forced to buy water for drinking and cooking. Toilet construction at designated locations is still at the foundation stage, causing hardship as devotees are compelled to use open areas.
Bathing ghats, roads, shrines behind schedule
An amount of ₹5.90 crore was sanctioned for repairs to bathing ghats, sand levelling and shower facilities at Jampanna Vagu. While sand levelling and shower installation are progressing, repair work on bathing ghats has not yet begun. Shower facilities are pending on both sides of the twin bridges.
Works being executed by the tribal welfare and endowments departments are also moving slowly. In contrast, works undertaken by the Northern Power Distribution Company of Telangana and the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation are progressing.
Road expansion works worth about ₹40 crore are under way from the Urattam Stupam to the Haritha Hotel and up to the TSRTC bus station. While cement concrete road works are advancing, bitumen road works are only 50 per cent complete, raising questions over the mixed construction approach.
Reconstruction of the sacred platforms at a cost of ₹101 crore has also been slow. Construction of the Pagididdaraju and Govindaraju platforms, begun a month ago, remains incomplete. Works related to the Sammakka and Saralamma platforms and the installation of stone pillars around the premises are progressing at a slow pace, with cross-stone placements only now being taken up.
