Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari today accused the Centre of failing to accord national status to the age-old Medaram Tribal festival of Sammakka and Sarakka in Telangana State. Despite repeated appeals, the Centre was averse to provide national status to the biennial Tribal Festival which is considered Telangana Kumbha Mela, Srihari said.
The Deputy Chief Minister held a review meeting on the festival arrangements with the officials at a guest house in Bhupalapally here. Speaking on the occasion, Kadiam took exception to the Centre for its reluctance to give national status to Medaram festival. He also said one crore people would throng the biennial Tribal festival and it is a huge congregation across the nation after Kumbha Mela in Uttar Pradesh. “Though we repeatedly sought national status to the tribal festival and also provide funds, the Centre was not responding”, he fumed. He said all the works for providing facilities to the devotees at Medaram will be completed by January 26. He asked the officials to speed up the works in addition to construction of a Tribal Museum, Haritha Cottages and erecting tents at the site as part of a plan for permanent arrangements.
The State Government has made necessary arrangements by spending Rs 80 crore for the Medaram festival to be held from January 31 to February 3, he said. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was giving top priority to all festivals in the State and providing funds, he added. (NSS)