BHUBANESWAR: Members of the Core Committee for Nabakalebara Village Project on Wednesday reviewed the provisions being made at the accommodation units which were battered by rain earlier this week.
The core committee comprising officials of Tourism and Works departments besides civic body and local administration went around the 33 Nabakalebara villages and checked availability of amenities like drinking water, electricity and security provisions. The Works department is implementing the project through a private agency.
Officials claimed that 90 per cent of infrastructure works in these units were completed on Wednesday. However, construction of approach roads to these villages has not been completed even as tourists and pilgrims are expected to arrive from Friday.
Sources said while drinking water provision has already been made in the accommodation units where police personnel and volunteers have put up, PHD will start providing drinking water through tankers for pilgrims and tourists from Friday till July 19.
The accommodation units for pilgrims and tourists will be handed over to Works department on Thursday.
As far as sanitation is concerned, the agency completed installation of over 200 toilet units in each of the villages on Thursday and low-lying areas near the accommodation units have been filled with sand to prevent water-logging in case it rains during Rath Yatra.
The accommodation units, which were handed over to police personnel on July 11, had faced severe water-logging due to lack of drainage facilities after rain on Saturday.
“All free accommodation units have been electrified and provisions like cloakrooms and changing rooms made in them. CCTVs have been installed in all the villages for security,” said a member of the committee.
Around 15 tourist information centres have come up in and around Puri where information regarding the Nabakalebara villages, nearest parking areas and information on tourists spots will be provided.
Meanwhile, the OTDC has decided to serve vegetarian meals prepared without onion and garlic in its Pantha Nivas property from Rath Yatra to Niladri Bije period.
Docs Suspended
The State Health Department on Wednesday suspended two doctors for not reporting for duty at Puri for the Nabakalebara Rath Yatra. Dr Ashwini Kumar Jena, assistant surgeon at Nayagarh district headquarters hospital, and medical officer of Polsara CHC Dr Jagannath Subudhi, faced action as they did not turn up at their temporary posting in Puri.
The State Government has deployed 280 doctors and 650 para-medical staff in Puri for the festival which is expected to witness a record turnout this year.