Cuttack, Oct. 11: This year, power supply will be provided to the Bali yatra ground through underground cabling.

Executive engineer of the Cuttack division of Central Electricity Supply Utility (Cesu) A.K. Bisoi today said work to lay the underground cables at the extended site was already on.

"We will be ready for power supply through underground cables from temporary power sub-stations," he said, adding that power this mode was safer and more reliable.

Cesu will also set up about 230 poles to draw 11KV power lines for supply to various pavilions and kiosks on the fair ground.

The Bali yatra is a week-long fair on the Mahanadi bank near the Gadagadia Shiv temple in the city - that is second to Puri's rath yatra in popularity in the state. The fair accommodates around 1,400 kiosks and draws a footfall of about five lakh. This year, the fair will begin on November 4 and continue till November 10.

Cesu spends about Rs 13 lakh in setting up the infrastructure for uninterrupted power supply during Bali yatra every year. It provides power through temporary connections and charges for it.

"Charges will be based on loads and points according to the present tariff," Bisoi said, adding that they hardly made any profit from the fair.

Another Cesu official said squads would be formed to ensure that there was no subletting of electricity from one kiosk to another. Other electricity misuses and tampering with power lines would also be checked.

Additional district magistrate (revenue), Cuttack, Raghuram Iyer said land for kiosks would be allotted on 44 acres. "The land allocation process will start on October 20," he said.