The tardy progress in the ongoing drainage construction and renovation work in Puri has put a question mark as to whether the system would be completed well before Nabakalebar of lord Jagannath in 2015.
According to information, only 30 per cent of the 77-km project has been completed so far while the timeline for completion has been set for March-end. Most of the areas, including sea beach, are seen overflowed with drain water. The Assembly Estimate Committee headed by Pratap Jena, which visited Puri and took stock of the drainage system on Saturday also expressed deep concern over the slow pace work. “The sewerage work has not been done to the expectation level. We have advised the concerned department to expedite the work and complete the same by March 31, 2015,” Jena told mediapersons.
It may be noted that a project under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM) has been undertaken to construct a total of 77-km-long drainage system in Puri and adjacent areas ahead of Nabakalebar. “The work is going on war-footing. The work would be completed by March 31,” said district Collector Arabinda Agrawal.