Opposition members on Friday expressed apprehensions that the infrastructural work going on for smooth conduct of the Nabakalebar festival would not be completed if the present slow pace of work continues. However, law Minister Arun Kumar Sahu asserted that all works including construction of roads, parking places, sewerage, water supply and temporary sheds for doctors, would be completed by June, a month before lord Jagannath’s Nabakalebar
Rath Festival scheduled to be held on July 18. “Around 50 lakh devoties are expected to throng Puri during the upcoming Nabakalebar festival. Keeping this in view, infrastructural works, including four laning of 67.255-km from Bhubaneswar to Puri, a bus terminal at Malatipatapur, 20 parking places for two and four-wheelers, seven 100-litre-capacity overhead water tank, sanitation, a temporary tourist shelter, structures of uninterrupted electricity supply, are going on war footing and they would be completed before June,” Sahu told the House.
He said a 6-bedded ICU and 20-bedded trauma care centre has been completed. Besides, two 200-bedded hospitals are nearing to be completed. However, Opposition members pooh-poohed claims stating that 50 per cent of most of the projects are yet to be completed. leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra quoting DGP’s statement said the ongoing works might not be completed before time. The State Government should ensure safety to all visitors during the festival.
Congress members, Taraprasad Bahinipati, Naba Kishore Das and Debendra Nath Sharma said half of most of the works are yet to be completed and public conveniences are yet to be constructed. BJP member Praip Purhohit said the State seems not to be ready for smooth conduct of the grand festival. On the other hand ruling party members like Amar Prasad Satpathy said Rs 100 crore has been made in the Budget. He said while the Chief Minister, the Chief Secretary and Secretaries of all departments are reviewing project works regularly, MlA Maheswar Mohanty has been working as a sevak.
He said in view of possible terrorist threats, the Shree Mandir area needs to be declared as no-flying zone. BJD members Samir Ranjan Das, Sashibhusan Behera and Anant Das participated in the discussion. They alleged that Centre has not yet provided any assistance sought by the State Government. Resenting the allegation of Central negligence, BJP members staged a walkout.