The Hindu 22.02.2010
Mosquito-repellent fish sought to be bred
Staff Correspondent
DAVANGERE: Deputy Commissioner K. Amaranarayana has directed the Commissioner of the Davangere City Corporation, Prasanna Kumar, to identify all water bodies in the city, particularly in places where water is stagnant, and take up breeding of a special kind of fish that kills mosquitoes. This is being done in preparation for the Durgamma Jatra Mahotsava that will be held here from February 22. Chairing a special meeting here on Friday, the Deputy Commissioner asked the Commissioner and the District Health Officer, Shivanna Reddy, to procure the fish from the Bhadra reservoir and ensure that the three lakh devotees who were expected to take part in the mahotsava were not affected by malaria or dengue. Mr. Amaranarayana seemed upset when the Commissioner said that only four toilets had been put up for the devotees and asked him whether at all they would be sufficient. He asked the Commissioner to put up temporary toilets or hire mobile toilets for the benefit of the pilgrims. The Commissioner said that hiring mobile toilets would be expensive and added that over Rs. 4 lakh would be needed for the purpose. The Deputy Commissioner said he did not mind spending Rs. 4 lakh for the benefit of three lakh people and asked the Commissioner to go ahead and hire the toilets. He promised the officials that the funds would be released without any difficulty.
Mr. Amaranarayana also asked the officials to ensure that there was regular supply of drinking water in the old Davangere area during the nine-day festival and wanted Project Director Pandurangan and Assistant Commissioner Janaki to install generators at the Bathi and Rajanahalli pump stations for the purpose. Mr. Prasanna Kumar said that over 35 showers had been put up as bathing facility for the pilgrims and said that several taps had also been installed to supply drinking water.
The Deputy Commissioner said he had been told that many women went to temples wearing only leaves, and directed the Assistant Commissioner and the tahsildars to ensure that women were properly clad.
Close-Circuit Televisions had been installed at many points in old Davangere area to ensure that people did not slaughter cattle during the festival, Mr. Amaranarayana said and asked the Police Department to keep a strict watch over the celebrations. He said the High Court had prohibited the sacrifice of animals during the festival and warned that stringent action would be taken against those who violated the rules.
