Cuttack, Oct. 11: The local civic body has dug up five temporary ponds on the Kathajodi embankment to ensure that the river is not polluted during the Durga Puja immersion ceremony.

Municipal commissioner Gyana Das today told The Telegraph that four temporary ponds have come up at Debigada and one at Gopalpur.

It is for the first time that the Cuttack Municipal Corporation has come up with a temporary pond at Gopalpur to check river pollution.

Around 26 idols of various puja committees would be immersed at the temporary pond on Kathajodi embankment at Gopalpur while the remaining idols would be immersed at Debigada.

"Following high court orders, adequate measures have been taken to ensure that the idols are immersed in the temporary ponds identified by the corporation and police," said Das.

He also said that earthmover machines and cranes, tractors and 50 sanitary staff of the civic body would be deployed to clean the water bodies once the immersion is over. The waste will be immediately shifted from Debigada and disposed of in a systematic manner, he added.

Fire officer (central range) B.B. Das said that 10 personnel and two boats have been kept ready at Debigada to carry out rescue operations in case of any emergency.

Around three to four lakh devotees from various parts of the state are expected to attend the immersion ceremony in Cuttack where the idols of the puja committees would be brought for immersion at Debigada in grand processions.

Chief district medical officer Prafulla Behera said that three mobile health teams, consisting of doctors and paramedical staff, would be kept ready during the immersion ceremony tomorrow.

The police have also decided to deploy extra personnel to guard the idols having silver and gold backdrops and also to ensure communal harmony during the procession.

"An elaborate security plan has been made for the immersion ceremony and officers have been instructed to keep an eye on puja committees to avoid any untoward incident," said a senior police officer.