Waterlogged areas in Puri on Saturday after heavy rain. Pictures by Sarat Patra

Cuttack, July 19: In an affidavit filed in Orissa High Court, the state government has conceded that execution of drainage system planned for Puri in view of Nabakalebar festival (change of idols) in 2015 is running behind schedule.

“The drainage job at five zones of the town was targeted to be over by March 2014. However, it has been delayed and steps are being taken to complete it at the earliest,” the affidavit stated.

The home department’s joint secretary Alok Kumar Kar filed the affidavit yesterday in reply to a PIL seeking the court’s intervention to ensure proper arrangements for safety and security of pilgrims during the Nabakalebar at the Jagannath temple.

The PIL had expressed apprehension that lack of proper arrangements for the festival would spell chaos and lead to collapse in civic amenities in the town. The Nabakalebar is expected to attract nearly 50 lakh pilgrims to Puri. Hence, adequate provision of required drinking water, sanitation, release of drain, traffic system, boarding and lodging, along with security arrangements for visitors, need to be worked out in advance, the PIL contends.

In his affidavit, Kar said: “The housing and urban development department has been instructed to prepare a comprehensive action plan for drinking water, sanitation, drainage and sewerage keeping in view the arrival of devotees in a huge number during the Nabakalebar.”

“The tourism department is trying to provide lodging and boarding facilities to the visitors during Nabakalebar. Besides, tented accommodation is being planned for a large number of visitors,” Kar said in the affidavit, adding that “a number of measures are being taken to improve traffic system ahead of Nabakalebar”.

“A drinking water supply scheme is being implemented in Puri under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewals Mission with an estimated cost of Rs 343.98 crore,” the affidavit said.

The PIL, filed by social activist Chittaranjan Mohanty, 64, had sought the court’s direction to the state government to submit the report of Justice P.K. Mohanty Commission appointed to probe into the stampede at the Puri Jagannath temple — in which four persons were killed on November 4, 2006.

Though the commission, appointed on November 22, 2006, had submitted its final report on September 15, 2009, the government has been silent about it, the PIL alleged.

In pursuance of the court order the government had submitted the Mohanty commission’s report on July 11. But, the court had sought an action taken report.

In his affidavit, Kar claimed that the state government, acting on the commission’s recommendations, had come up with four watch towers on four corners of the outer compound wall of the temple, installed 16 CCTV cameras at four gates of the temple.

“Action is being taken to modify the design of the towers and to install more CCTV cameras,” the affidavit said.

An electronic display board has been installed near the Lion’s gate, wherein the position of Niti of the day and the time of commencement and closure of sahan mela darshan are displayed. Action is being taken to install such display boards at the railway station and other conspicuous places.

The affidavit admitted that the temple co-ordination committee, district administration and the police had not been formed.

“However, the temple’s chief administrator holds meetings with the district magistrate, superintendent of police and other police officers as and when required to discuss matters related to security of the temple and crowd management,” the affidavit said.