Puri: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's idea to observe the country's first swachh rath yatra in Puri this time became a partial success with the sanitation shooting up to high degree but the awareness activities remaining almost nil, bringing back people to the same practice of not using waste bins and at times toilets.

According to the plan mooted to observe the swachh rath yatra, officials were to organise various awareness activities, including distribution of leaflets, putting up of hoardings, display of message on cleanliness through LED display boards and organisation of quiz competitions among others.

However, none of the activities were to be seen anywhere in Puri on Saturday, resulting in piling of garbage, mainly the disposable glasses and plates used to eat food and waste food items among others in various places. The afternoon rain, in the meantime, has worsen the situation as rainwater was seen clogged in several areas along the Grand Road.

"It is very dirty and stinking all across the Grand Road because of the dumping of food items and the plates. The rain has just added to the woes. At the same time, the lanes along the Grand Road became favourite place for urination and at times defecation also," said local resident Sarada Nanda. Devotees and visitors, too, feel the pinch of inadequate civic facilities. "There are not enough number of waste bins or toilets for use. There are lakhs of people coming here and there. There should be adequate facilities for them," said Niranjan Ojha, a visitor from Bhubaneswar.

One of the important activities planned as part of the swachh rath yatra is putting a ban on use of plastic water pouches. On this front, the authorities attained partial success since no voluntary organisation provided such pouches this season like they used to do in previous years. Local shopkeepers also avoided selling pouches.

More than 300 sanitation workers, including sweepers and garbage collectors with 20 garbage-lifting vehicles, were put in place along the Grand Road to manage the sanitation activities. Besides, the administration has also made the Sulabh Souchalaya and other public toilets free to use for the public.

Puri district collector Aravind Agrawal said they had provided enough facilities for the visitors. "We put high priority in sanitation. Our municipal workers were aided by various voluntary organisations in managing the sanitation along the Grand Road as well as other parts of the city," said Agrawal.