Sambalpur: CRPF jawans are in town to save it not from anti-national elements but from people taking a dump by the river.

The district administration has sought the help of Central Reserved Police Force (CRPF) to make Ring Road, which runs along the Mahanadi river in Sambalpur town, open-defecation free.

Local residents were confused on Wednesday morning to see armed CRPF personnel on the new ring road, along with collector Samarth Verma, officials of the Sambalpur Muncipal Corporation (SMC) and some social activists.

The CRPF jawans stopped people from going to the river bed for defecating.

"We were forced to take the help of security personnel as the people, despite several requests and warnings, did not change their attitude to open defecation," a civic official said. "We will fine violators now."

The government has recently inaugurated seven Sulava Souchalayas on the ring road between Kacheri Chowk to Mandlia Chowk for the use of those living on the river bank who have no toilets at their home.

"Despite educating them through leaflets, audio propaganda and street plays and programmes, people are not ready to leave their old habits," the official said.

The 3.5km ring road has been recently widened and made in a two-lane one with LED lights.

A Rs 9.14-crore plan has also been drawn up for its beautification. A Calcutta-based company has prepared the detailed project report that will be taken up in six phases. Tender for the first phase from Samaleswari temple to Kamali Bazaar has been floated for Rs 99 lakh, official sources said.

The total work is estimated to be completed within a year. In the first phases, two covered viewpoints out of a total six will be constructed.

In the second phase, work will be taken up from Kamali Bazaar to Ballibandha ghat. There is also a plan to construct of a huge pandal near Kacheri. Pavements will come up and the river bathing ghats will be renovated.