Puri: The district administration has put emphasis on the removal of garbage and silt from drains ahead of the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath which is scheduled to be organised July 4.
While participating in the first coordination meeting for Rath Yatra here Wednesday, collector Jyotiprakash Dash claimed that some people used to dump garbage into the drains. He put emphasis on proper awareness among people to check the practice. “We would de-silt all drains in the city ahead of the Rath Yatra. Our employees have already started the work,” Dash said.
Revenue divisional commissioner (central) Anil Samal presided over the meeting that deliberated on issues like sanitation, healthcare, drinking water, transportation, power supply and law and order for the mega event.
Regional conservator of forests Dibakar Mishra informed the meeting that they have asked the authorities of Nayagarh and Boudh forest divisions to supply altogether 670 logs for this year’s chariot construction. “They have so far supplied 323 logs. Some of these logs have been transported to a government saw-mill in Cuttack,” Samal added.
Participating in the meeting, Srimandir ritual consultant Rabindranath Dash said they have asked the Odisha Coir Corporation to supply 16 ropes for pulling of chariots and other requirements. “The temple has four quintals of resin and equal amount of sandalwood at its storehouse. If required, we would procure more sandalwood from Tamil Nadu,” Dash added.
Elaborating on healthcare facilities for devotees, chief district medical officer Ramchandra Rout said they would open as many as 31 first-aid centres in the Holy City during Rath Yatra. “We would deploy 30 ambulances on the Grand Road and other places. Four food inspectors would be brought on deputation to keep tab on the food served by eateries in the city. A special ward would be opened at district headquarters hospital (DHH) to deal with heat stroke cases. The casualty ward would have additional beds,” Rout informed the meeting.
Puri municipal executive officer Harishchandra Nayak informed the meeting that the civic body would deploy 32 tankers and install 200 temporary stand posts on the Grand Road (Badadanda) to supply drinking water to devotees. “We have decided to set up 15 temporary parking lots for Rath Yatra. Some temporary toilets would also be set up in the city,” Nayak said.
The officials also put emphasis on uninterrupted power supply to the Holy City during the Car Festival.
The railway officials said they would run at least 180 special trains to clear the rush during Car Festival. The railways would open 36 ticket booking counters at Puri and Malatipatpur stations and 24 more counters at other stations to deal with the heavy rush. Moreover, the railways would set up automatic ticket vending machines at Puri station.