No manual scavenging in Pandharpur, Maha govt assures HC

The Maharashtra government today assured the Bombay High Court that it would ensure no manual scavenging takes place in the pilgrim town of Pandharpur during the annual 'ashadhi ekadashi' fair, when lakhs of devotees visit the place.
The government also informed that it would construct at least 4,000 toilets for the tourists near the temple. Of these, 2,100 would be temporary toilets, 900 permanent ones and the rest pre-fabricated.
This figured in the minutes of the high-level meeting of government officials convened by Pune Divisional Commissioner yesterday in Pandharpur.
The high court had ordered the district authorities to hold a meeting and take decisions in view of the pollution threat during the festival, generally held in July every year.

A copy of the minutes was presented by the state's counsel P G Sawant to a bench headed by Justice Naresh Patil, which perused it and expressed satisfaction over the steps proposed to be taken by the government during the festival from July 27 to August 5.
"It seems that the district administration has planned well," observed the bench.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Campaign against Manual Scavenging, an organisation formed to check pollution during the festival, and other NGOs. The matter has been adjourned to August 3.
The court was informed that a 65-acre plot of land, belonging to Railways, had been identified in Pandharpur on which the administration would allow the devotees to put up a temporary accommodation during their visit to Pandharpur.

The high court had earlier banned erection of structures near the banks of Chandrabhaga river to prevent water pollution.
The court was also informed that the district administration had decided to issue passes to doctors to enable them visit the OPDs set up especially near the temple.
Nearly 15 lakh devotees (known as 'warkaris' in local parlance) from various parts of the state visit Pandharpur town on foot every year to pay obeisance to Lord Vithoba.
Warkari organisations have intervened in the matter seeking proper toilet arrangements and accommodation. They alleged that the practice of manual scavenging is still on in the pilgrim town while the government denied that such activity is in vogue.