Team Goemkarponn
VASCO: South Goa Collector Egna Cleetus on Thursday reviewed preparedness for the annual Damodar Saptah fair in Vasco along with Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar, South Goa SP Tikam Singh, Mormugao DySP Gurudas Kadam, Deputy Collector Pratap Rao Gaonkar, Mamlatdar Pravinjay Pandit, Saptah Committee Central member Prashant Joshi and other members of the Saptah Samiti.
The Collector announced that the giant wheel will not be permitted at this year’s Saptah fair and directed authorities and organisers to strictly follow safety and disaster management protocols to ensure smooth crowd movement and prevent any untoward incident.
Cleetus said separate entry and exit points would have to be maintained for devotees, while emergency exit areas must remain free of barricades. A separate holding area will also be created to regulate crowds, particularly during peak hours.
Considering the possibility of rain, adequate pandals will be put up to prevent overcrowding. The administration will also strictly verify fire safety, structural stability and other mandatory certifications for stalls and temporary structures.
“The SOPs under disaster management have to be strictly adhered to. There should be separate entry and exit points for smooth movement of devotees and no barricades in the emergency exit area. There should also be a separate holding area so that the crowd can be controlled,” Cleetus said.
She added that the number of stalls allotted by the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) would have to comply with restrictions imposed by the High Court, particularly to ensure that stalls do not encroach upon roads or obstruct traffic.
The administration has also directed that fire brigade personnel and ambulances be stationed during the fair. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be deployed to inspect food-related arrangements, particularly as food prasad is distributed during the Saptah celebrations.
Cleetus said food preparation at individual stalls would generally not be permitted and that a common kitchen would be used. Where permission is granted for cooking at stalls, the concerned stall will mandatorily have to be equipped with a fire extinguisher.
“On the first day, teams of the FDA, Mamlatdar, MMC and police will conduct inspections to check for violations, after which action will be initiated,” she said.
On the giant wheel, Cleetus said the administration had received a proposal to install one on government land but had rejected it.
“There are no permissions granted and there will be no giant wheel at the Vasco Saptah fair this year,” she said.
Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar said all Standard Operating Procedures would be strictly followed and arrangements had been streamlined to prevent overcrowding in and around the temple.
He said the Saptah Committee had taken public insurance for the temple and its surrounding premises, while the MMC would provide public insurance for the fair area.
“The Collector has reviewed all the arrangements and the suggestions given during the inspection will be implemented. All SOPs will be strictly adhered to for smooth Damodar Saptah celebrations,” Salkar said.
