Puri: The first coordination meeting of Rath Yatra was held here on Monday. Several decisions regarding the annual chariot festival were taken at the meeting.
With around 12 to 15 lakh people expected to turn up for the annual Rath Yatra, the district administration stressed on availability of water, electricity, sanitation and medical facilities for the devotees. It has been decided to set up 14 temporary medical centres on the Grand Road (Bada Danda) and keep 29 ambulances ready, informed RDC Central Division Suresh Chandra Dalei.
Dalei presided over the meeting which was attended by MLA Jayant Sarangi, IG Police, Central Range, Narasingha Bhol, Secretary, Daitapati Nijog Ramkrushna Das Mohapatra and senior servitors.
The Works Department was asked to carry out maintenance work of roads in the town before June 20. On the other hand, 29 parking spots have been identified for Rath Yatra.
Informing about the security measures, Bhol said for Snana Purnima, 65 platoons force will be deployed under the supervision of 200 DSP-ranked officers and 50 Additional SPs.
It was decided at the meeting to find a solution to the scarcity of wood for construction of chariots. Shree Jagannath Bana Prakalpa (Jagannath forest project), which is in limbo, will be revived. A meeting would be fixed with the divisional forest officer (DFO) after the festival to discuss the matter.
“The Collector said he would take initiative to ensure the revival of the project. In the next meeting, the progress achieved by then would be discussed,” informed secretary of Daitapati Nijog, Ramkrushna Das Mohapatra.
Of the 1542 metres cloth required for the chariots, 800 metres red cloth will be reaching Puri from Gujarat by June 15, the meeting informed.
