Jagannath temple in Puri

Cuttack, Nov. 22: Orissa High Court has sought an update from the state government on safety and security arrangements for pilgrims during the Nabakalebar of Lord Jagannath in 2015 at the Puri temple.

The court issued the direction yesterday while hearing a petition that had expressed apprehension over the lack of proper arrangements for the festival. Social activist Chittaranjan Mohanty had filed the petition, seeking the court’s intervention to ensure proper safety measures for the pilgrims during Nabakalebar.

Earlier acting on the PIL, the court had sought a report from the state government on the preparations for Nabakalebar. In pursuance of the order, the state government had submitted an affidavit on July 18. But, no further reports had followed.

“Taking note of it, the division bench of Justice A.K. Rath and Justice B.R. Sarangi had directed the state government to file an affidavit with updates of arrangements made for Nabakalebar and adjourned the matter to November 28 for hearing along with the report,” petitioner counsel Kshirod Rout said today.

“The court also sought an update on implementation of the recommendations of Justice P.K. Mohanty Commission,” Rout said.

The Justice P.K. Mohanty Commission was appointed to analyse the sequence of events and circumstances that lead to a stampede at the Puri Jagannath temple in which four persons were killed on November 4, 2006.

The commission had submitted its final report to the government on September 15, 2009. The state government submitted a copy of the report in the high court on July 11 this year after directions were issued for it in response to the PIL.

In its affidavit filed on July 18, the state government had conceded that execution of the drainage system planned for Puri in view of Nabakalebar was running behind schedule.

Joint secretary of the home department Alok Kumar Kar had filed the affidavit. “The drainage system at five zones of Puri town was targeted to be completed by March, 2014. However, it has been delayed and steps are being taken to complete the same at the earliest,” the affidavit said.

“The state 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.