BHUBANESWAR: One spell of rain and the Nabakalebara Villages set up to provide temporary accommodations to one lakh tourists during Rath Yatra are a picture of shambles.
Just four days to go before the all important religious event kicks off, the 33 accommodations are crying out for attention.
Following Saturday’s showers, some of these Nabakalebara Villages, made of bamboo, polythene sheets and aluminium at a cost of `20 lakh each, faced serious waterlogging. These units are supposed to provide basic yet essential amenties.
While the one set up on SCS College premises is clogged in absence of drainage channel, others faced water seepage through the roof made of tattered polythene sheets.
The agency implementing the project handed over the accommodation units meant for police personnel and volunteers to Works Department on Saturday. The policemen who have been put up in these units alleged that the structures have no drinking water and power supply while toilets are in a mess.
Electricity supply is yet to be provided to all the units and Works Department is racing against time to complete construction of lavatories and bathing complexes.
Contacted, Chief Engineer of Works Department SR Sethi said all measures have been put in place for comfortable stay of pilgrims. He asserted that drainage facilities have been readied and adequate number of sanitation workers stationed in Nabakalebara Villages to work during exigencies.
“We have deployed two sanitation workers for cleaning a toilet complex having 10 lavatories. Drinking water will be provided in these accommodation units by Public Health and Engineering Department,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday sent 340 sweepers as a supplementary measure.
BMC Commissioner Krishan Kumar, who has been assigned additional charge of overall administration of Puri Municipality from July 11 to 30, said the sweepers will begin cleaning work from Tuesday till Niladri Bije.
“We will crack down on hoteliers and other organisations dumping solid waste and debris in drains. Enforcement squads will initiate strict action against anyone found doing so,” he said.