NOIDA: In Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar, District Magistrate and IAS officer Suhas L Yathiraj walked over a distance of five kilometres on foot to review the preparations for the ongoing annual Kanwar Yatra, officials said on Monday.
Yathiraj, also a para-badminton player of international repute, walked the five-km distance along a canal from the Chilla border in Noida on Sunday, according to the administration officials.
He was accompanied by officers of the district administration and the police during the inspection of the routes for Kanwar Yatra through Gautam Buddh Nagar, adjoining Delhi, they said.
"During inspection, the DM directed officials concerned to take special care in facilitating the movement of Kanwariyas. The officials are discharging their responsibilities accordingly to ensure safe completion of the Kanwar Yatra," an official said.
"The DM directed the Food Safety Department officials to ensure that food items being served to Kanwariyas at special camps in various areas for Kanwar Yatra are as per standards," the official added.
On Monday, Yathiraj visited Bhaipur temple in Greater Noida's Rabupura area and inspected preparations for the 'Jalabhishek', according to an official statement.
During the visit, necessary guidelines were given to the officials concerned on the spot regarding the facilities for pilgrims on Kanwar Yatra, as per the instructions of the UP government, the statement added.
Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Gautam Buddh Nagar Alok Singh also inspected the security arrangements for Kanwariyas, the devotees of Lord Shiva, in Greater Noida on Monday, according to officials.
Singh, who was accompanied by Joint Commissioner (law and order) Love Kumar, inspected arrangements at the Shiva temple in Rabupura, to Kherli canal where PAC is deployed and till the Cheethi border, the officials said.
During the Kanwar Yatra, devotees of Lord Shiva, especially in north India, walk on foot to Haridwar, Gaumukh, etc in Uttarakhand to fetch the water of Ganga river in the auspicious Hindu month of Shravan. The holy water is then offered to Lord Shiva.
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