Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) is intensifying enforcement and cleaning operations ahead of Thaipusam, which is expected to draw over 2.5 million devotees to the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple in Batu Caves, Selangor.
The local council has allocated RM149,000 for waste management services in and around the site.
MPS Corporate Communica-tions Department said about 330 tonnes of solid waste was collected last Thaipusam.
“For this year’s celebration, 45 MPS personnel will be deployed over 18 days to monitor cleaning and waste collection operations,” it said in a media statement.
In addition, contracted cleaners will be deployed in stages – 32 workers on normal days and up to 120 during the festival’s five peak days.
Thaipusam falls on Feb 1, with peak days starting from Jan 28.
MPS has also appointed a contractor for cleaning and waste collection works outside the temple compound until Feb 10.
The local council said 130 officers from its Enforcement and Security Department would be on duty during the festival.
MPS also said it had offered 210 temporary trading lots outside the temple compound through a public ballot.
“Traders were required to get a temporary permit from MPS to set up shop at Batu Caves during Thaipusam,” it said.
“The permit is a special requirement imposed in conjunction with Thaipusam to ensure business activities are carried out safely, orderly and in compliance with regulations.”
Some 15 lots have been allocated to associations for people with disabilities while the rest are for barbers and other traders, including food vendors.
Of these, 48 are categorised as hotspot lots which are located in high-traffic areas.
Each trading permit costs RM150 whereas barbers will pay RM250.
For hotspot lots, the permits cost RM400 onwards.
