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.