Plastic ban in and around Tara Tarini

Use of polythene and plastic carry bags has been banned in and around Tara Tarini, a famous shakti shrine and tourist destination of India, near Berhampur city in Odisha's Ganjam district.

This was decided at the coordination committee meeting for the ensuing Chaitra Mela at Chhatrapur. The meeting was chaired by revenue divisional Commissioner (southern division) S N Deb.

"The ban will be implemented from Chaitra Mela, beginning on March 10," Ganjam district Collector P C Choudhary said.

All shops in the area will be asked to strictly follow the order. Last year, the administration banned polythene and liquor during the festival.

Campaigners and environmentalists have welcomed the decision. "Massive awareness is needed before implementing the decision," secretary of Tara Tarini Development Board Pramod Kumar Panda said.

Lakhs of devotees from the state and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh get their children tonsured at the shrine, 35 km from here, during the festival.

The administration has directed officials concerned to ensure supply of electricity and water, maintain sanitation and set up temporary health camps before the start of the festival.

PTI

Tara Tarini Chaitra Yatra/Mela to be polythene-free

The famous Maa Tara Tarini Chaitra Yatra of Ganjam is going to begin from March 10. As per traditions, it will be performed on the four Tuesdays of the month of Chaitra. Keeping in view the flow of lakhs of devotees to the temple, the district administration held a preparatory meeting at Chatrapur on February 10. Revenue Divisional Commissioner (SD) and chairperson of the Tara Tarini Development Council Sailendra Narayan De presided over the meeting.

Old Image of Tara Tarini Shakti Peetha :Braving heat lakhs of

devotees standing in long queue to enter the famous Tara Tarini hill temple

(Breast Shrine of Shakti) near Berhampur city in Ganjam district, Odisha

Ganjam Collector Premchand Choudhury explained the significance and pride of the heritage temple and the famous yatra and sought the cooperation of all the service wings of the district administration and people of all walks of life for smooth and successful conduct of the yatra.

The meeting, among other things, decided to make the entire region of Maa Tara Tarini Temple free from polythene, construct adequate  rest sheds to protect devotees from possible heat wave, provide drinking water, put in place effective traffic system for transportation of devotees, provide temporary healthcare camps and sanitation in the temple premises, deploy fire fighting vehicles and ODRAF team, prohibit sale and consumption of liquor and other drugs in the region, repair and renovate all approaching roads on war footing and construct temporary toilets for devotees, among others.

It was also decided in the meeting that the Chatrapur Sub-Collector will review the progress of the preparatory work once in each week till the yatra begins. A master plan for all-round development of the temple was presented. The committee advised the chief of the Technical Committee Binod Kumar Patra to complete all the pending works on war footing.

Among others, Maa Tara Tarini Temple Development Council secretary Pramod Kumar Panda, Additional Collector Pradeep Kumar Nanda, CDMO Dr PC Sahu, the Ganjam ADMO, the Chatrapur Sub-Collector, the Purushottampur BDO, representatives of Sevayats Tapan Rana and Jagannath Rana attended.