Navy Mela starts today

By Our Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM, NOV. 28. The Navy Mela, a four-day Naval exhibition being organised as part of the ongoing Navy Week celebrations, will be inaugurated at the Fleet Sports Grounds of the Eastern Naval Command here on Thursday.

Stalls put up by several naval establishments like INS Circars, INS Dega, INS Kalinga, the Naval Dockyard and the Naval Armament Depot would provide an insight into various technological and indigenous efforts the Navy had achieved in recent times, according to a Navy press release here on Wednesday.

Local traders would also put up several stalls and recreational and entertainment facilities would also be created. The Mela will be open to the public from 5.30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Prizes would be distributed to winners of the Navy Week painting competition (held on Nov. 4 at VUDA Park) at the Navy Mela after the inaugural ceremony.

Some naval ships and a submarine would be kept open for the public during the Navy Week, the press release added. On Nov. 29 and 30, the ships would be open exclusively for organised groups of schoolchildren, while the general public could visit the ships on Dec. 1 and 2. The entrance would be through the Pallava Gate of the Naval Dockyard, near the Pipe Line Junction, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. People willing to visit the ships will be requested not to carry handbags, cameras and cell phones due to security reasons.

The most significant event of this year's Navy Week celebrations would be the Naval Display on the Ramakrishna Beach on the evening of Dec. 4, which is being celebrated as Navy Day every year.

The display included three-dimensional operational manoeuvres at sea by a number of naval ships, submarine and aircraft of ENC, intricate beaching operations by a Naval ship and the Beating the Retreat ceremony by the ENC band. The Governor, Dr. C. Rangarajan, would be the chief guest of the function.

Appeal to public

The Eastern Naval Command has appealed to the public to refrain from throwing eatables and garbage within a radius of 3 km. from the R.K. Beach, venue of the naval operation display on Dec. 4.

An ENC press release said that a number of naval aircraft including maritime reconnaissance aircraft, fighters and helicopters would perform low level flying over the beach skirting the city from the Kailasa Hill to Dolphin's Nose from Thursday onwards in preparation for the Dec. 4 show. "Throwing eatabales and garbage would be a serious aviation hazard due to birds. Spectators for the Naval display and those visiting warships and the Navy Mela are requested not to carry handbags, cameras and cell phones for security reason," it said.

Mr. Sunil Sharma, District Collector, has cautioned residents and fishermen on the seaward practice firing undertaken by the Indian Navy from the Coastal Battery near R.K. Beach in prepration for the Naval display. The firing practice would also be held on Dec. 6 and 20.

During the firing practice timings between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. as also from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., he advised fishermen and also residents in the area not to venture into the sea.

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Section  : Southern States
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