Additional Chief Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Usha Padhee, IAS, today reviewed the preparedness and management arrangements being undertaken by the Urban Development Department and Puri Municipal Corporation for the world-famous Rath Yatra at a high-level meeting held at the Circuit House, Puri.
Addressing the meeting, ACS Padhee stated that the Urban Development Department plays a crucial role in ensuring a safe, healthy and hassle-free experience for lakhs of devotees visiting Puri during Rath Yatra. She expressed confidence that with coordinated efforts and collective cooperation among all stakeholders, the annual festival would be conducted smoothly and successfully.
Reviewing the civic preparedness, the Additional Chief Secretary directed officials to accord top priority to sanitation, public health, toilet facilities, parking management, street lighting and other essential civic amenities. She also emphasised the need for round-the-clock monitoring and prompt response to any emergent situation during the festival period.
Officials informed the meeting that all major drains in the city have been cleaned and desilted. The side drains along the Grand Road (Bada Danda) have also been thoroughly cleaned with the support of Jagrani Welfare Organisation. A total of 24 designated parking locations have been identified for vehicles, while road repairs and pothole restoration works across the city have been completed.
Keeping in view the possibility of heavy rainfall and waterlogging, 30 vulnerable locations have been identified and equipped with high-capacity pump sets for immediate dewatering. Adequate arrangements have also been made for controlling stray cattle and enforcement activities are being carried out regularly to ensure cleanliness and proper civic management.
Puri Municipal Corporation Commissioner, Sneha Arugula, presented a detailed overview of the preparations being undertaken by the civic body. She informed that special emphasis is being laid on sanitation and public awareness, and that stringent action, including imposition of fines, will be taken against those violating cleanliness norms.
The meeting also decided that only dry food will be distributed during the Rath Yatra and cooked food will not be served on the Grand Road in order to maintain hygiene and facilitate effective waste management. Information boards and signages relating to food, drinking water, medical services and other public facilities will be installed across the city for the convenience of devotees.ACS Smt Padhee appreciated the efforts of PMC Commissioner and team.
The meeting was attended by Special Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Vinay Kumar Das; Additional Secretary, Subhananda Mohapatra; Secretary, Puri-Konark Development Authority, Shri Dilip Kumar Maharana; Joint Secretary, Puri Municipal Corporation, Abhimanyu Behera; and senior officers of the Puri Municipal Corporation and other concerned.
