With the capital city gearing up to receive several lakhs of devotees
for the Attukal Pongala offering ritual on Sunday, the City Corporation
is making the final preparations.

 Considering the huge amount of
garbage that will be generated during the festival days, the
Corporation has employed 2,470 workers, including 1,750 temporary and
720 permanent staff, for cleaning. Health Standing Committee Chairperson
S Pushpalatha said that the cleaning activities would be carried out on
the basis of 10 circles that come in the 20 wards which were announced
as festival zones.

 The organic and plastic waste generated on Sunday will be carted away to pre-identified spots and will be buried there.

The
waste materials will be taken away in 43 lorries. As many as eight
water lorries and 25 water tanks have been arranged for the distribution
of drinking water.

 A review meeting had been convened by Mayor K
Chandrika on February 6 to evaluate the arrangements for Pongala.
Organisations that offer food to the devotees during the festival should
obtain permission either from the City Corporation or the office of the
Food Safety Commissioner. Details of those who avail such permission
have to be submitted to the police.

 It was also decided that the
voluntary organisations that offer food to the devotees during the
festival should process the garbage they generate on their own. Plastic
disposable cups, plastic and thermocole plates should not be used. 

The
Corporation has also formed a cleaning squad by dividing the staff into
57 groups to carry out the cleaning activities in the areas where the
Pongala is offered.  A round-the-clock control room has also been opened
by the Health Standing Committee on the temple premises.