Bhubaneswar: With lakhs of devotees expected to visit Puri for the annual Rath Yatra, the government on Monday reviewed drinking water supply arrangements and intensified preparations to ensure uninterrupted access to safe drinking water during the festival.
Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra conducted a comprehensive review of the city’s drinking water infrastructure and inspected the ongoing construction of the 42 MLD Water Treatment Plant. He also chaired a meeting with senior officials to assess the preparedness of the water supply system ahead of the festival.
WATCO Managing Director Debabrata Mohanty, senior departmental officials, engineers and project authorities briefed the Minister on the progress of the water treatment plant and the special measures being taken to ensure uninterrupted water supply during Rath Yatra.
During the inspection, Dr. Mahapatra reviewed the progress of key components of the 42 MLD Water Treatment Plant, including the clarifier, filtration unit, equipment installation and supporting infrastructure. Emphasising the project’s importance in meeting Puri’s growing water demand, he directed the executing agencies to expedite the work while maintaining prescribed quality standards.
“The population of Puri increases manifold during the Rath Yatra. Ensuring uninterrupted supply of safe drinking water to devotees and residents is our top priority. All agencies must remain fully prepared to respond to any contingency,” the Minister said.
He also reviewed arrangements for round-the-clock drinking water supply around the Shree Jagannath Temple, pilgrim accommodations, temporary camps and other key locations across the city. Officials were instructed to continuously monitor the distribution network and keep standby pumps, power backup systems and emergency response mechanisms ready throughout the festival.
As part of contingency planning, WATCO has positioned mobile water tankers, temporary water distribution points and emergency response teams to deal with any disruption in supply. A dedicated control room will operate round the clock during the Rath Yatra to ensure prompt response and uninterrupted services.
The Minister further directed officials and implementing agencies to complete the water treatment plant within the stipulated timeline without compromising on quality, warning that any negligence or deviation from prescribed standards would be viewed seriously.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to efficient civic services during the annual festival, Dr. Mahapatra said the Housing and Urban Development Department and WATCO are fully prepared to ensure smooth drinking water supply for devotees and residents throughout the Rath Yatra.
