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DEPUTY CHIEF Minister Ajit Pawar, who visited the Jaystambh at Perne Phata to review preparations for the Koregaon Bhima Battle Anniversary celebrations, directed all government agencies to ensure there were no shortcomings in the arrangements for the lakh of followers expected to visit the area on January 1. He also directed authorities to ensure that there were no traffic jams in the region.
On Monday, Pawar addressed a review meeting that was organised to review the preparations for the Battle of Koregaon Bhima anniversary programme to be held on January 1. Present at the meeting were MLA Dnyaneshwar Katke, in-charge District Collector and Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad Santosh Patil, Joint Police Commissioner of Pimpri-Chinchwad Shashikant Mahavarkar, Director General of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute (BARTI) Sunil Ware, Superintendent of Police Pankaj Deshmukh, Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department Atul Chavan, and Superintendent Engineer Bappa Bahir, among others. Pawar also paid tributes at the Jaystambh.
The Deputy CM told the officials present that considering the large number of followers expected to attend the Jaystambh salutation ceremony on January 1, a detailed planning should be done for all aspects. Care should be taken to ensure that the shortcomings from last year are not repeated.
To avoid traffic congestion in the area, a traffic management plan and a layout for vehicle parking should be prepared. Teams should be appointed for cleanliness, and sufficient water facilities should be provided for toilets. Additionally, the number of water tankers for drinking water should also be considered, a press statement from the District Information Office issued in this regard read.
Constructed by the British government in 1821 in memory of its soldiers who fought against the Peshwas at Koregaon Bhima on January 1, 1818, the Jayastambh, a memorial obelisk, is situated at the Perne village on the Pune–Ahmednagar highway. The district administration, along with the Pune city police, Pimpri Chinchwad police, Pune rural police and other agencies, have chalked out a detailed plan of police deployment, which will be made at the time of the event.
The Deputy CM gave specific directions with regards to beautification of the Jaystambh area, lighting arrangements, setting up of stalls and tents, parking facilities, traffic plan, health services, food and refreshments arrangements, drinking water supply, road repairs, installation of temporary toilets, cleanliness and deployment of garbage collection and disposal vehicles, sanitation, provision of fire-fighting vehicles during emergencies, electrical arrangements and disaster management among others.
Pawar directed the Public Works Department and the Zilla Parishad’s construction department to carry out road repairs and other minor construction tasks. Considering the expected number of followers, he sought deployment of necessary health services, teams and volunteers to assist elderly and disabled citizens who come to pay their respects at the Jaystambh along with deployment of sufficient ambulances and first aid kits.
