Strict vigil on public littering this Mahashivratri in SGNP
GETTING LORD SHIVA READY
During every Mahashivratri, thousands of devotees throng to the Shiva temple in Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP).
This year, special emphasis will be put to Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary (TWLS), which is also a part of SGNP, since more people are expected to drop in. The park authorities have issued guidelines which state that a strict vigil will be kept for forest fires and litter.
Anwar Ahmed, director and chief conservator of forest, SGNP, said the guidelines further ask devotees to ensure their safety as well as that of the park.
“More volunteers will be deployed for the safety of forest as well as the public. Action will be taken against offenders at that very moment,” he said.
Last year, the authorities had promoted more use of bicycles to visit the temple and shy away from using motor vehicles to avoid pollution inside the forest. However, there was no mention of that in the meeting this year.
“The biggest problem we face each year is of public littering in the forest. Devotees will have to understand someday the park should consider a ban on Mahashivratri ‘darshan’,” said Krishna Tiwari, naturalist and founder of Forest and Wildlife Conservation Society.
He also added that the park is expecting over one lakh devotees from Yeoor, Borivali and Tungareshwar Sanctuary which also comes under the SGNP area, to visit the temple.