Lakhs of devotees are in Puri to celebrate the rath yatra. Almost all hotels and resorts are full and there are many people who have not been able to find a hotel. These people have found shelter in the temporary tents put up by the state government at Talabania.

But the waste and garbage dumped by these devotees has become a cause of concern for local residents.

Started around 10 years ago, these temporary arrangements turn home to more than a lakh people during the nine-day rath yatra. The tents are built at the Talabania bus stand. Each tent can house between 5,000 and 6,000 people. However, the municipality has allegedly failed to provice proper sanitation and sewerage facilities. A small number of temporary toilets made of black plastic sheets have been put up for the devotees, but which are quite far from the tents. The cooking and washing arrangements have been made on the same ground.

The municipality takes months to clear the garbage strewn across the place by the people staying in these tents.

Ajay Satpathy, a resident of Talabania, said: “Every year after rath yatra, the ground is full of plastic packets, garbage and rotten vegetables. The devotees dump garbage everywhere and live in a very unhygienic manner due to lack of proper sanitation facilities. The area is filled with stench.” He alleged that the municipality takes a long time to clear the garbage.

The Puri Municipality, however, has assured to have a clean and holy festival this year. Puri Municipality chairperson Shantilal Pradhan said: “This year, we aim to keep the city clean at any cost. We have increased the number of temporary and permanent cleaners by 100.”

Jagganath Das, another resident of Talabania, said: “It is just not during rath yatra. People come here and make the playground their base for at least a couple of days during any occasion or festival. We fall sick because of the dirt and pollution many a times. The area becomes a haven for contagious diseases. This time municipality has assured us clean and healthy environment during the festival. Hope they live up to their promise this time.”