Drain Water Flooding near Puri Temple Entrance

BY: SUN STAFF CORRESPONDENT

[Photos: Sampradaya Sun]

May 11, 2012 — JAGANNATHA PURI, ORISSA — Devotees at Jagannath Temple in Puri had a tough time on Friday as they waded through drain water, spilling from an overflowing drain near the shrine. Pilgrims were shocked to find the poor state of affairs around the 12th century temple.

The drain water almost reached the Lion Gate entrance of the temple, sparking tension among priests. Municipality sweepers were soon mobilized to decongest the drain following resentment by priests and pilgrims.

"Just like the clogged drain, the civic body has also become defunct. We have been complaining about the unclean drain since long, but to no avail," said Satyanarayan Mohapatra, a priest. "This is the scenario of the world famous Jagannath Temple. It is high time the government should wake up to clean the pilgrim city," the priest said.

"We were shocked to find the filthy situation outside the temple. It was sheer inconvenient to walk through the waste," Chandan Ray, a devotee said.

With Rath Yatra nearing, the poor condition of drains left the citizens in high dudgeon. "One can imagine the situation to enter the temple amid unholy situation. The district administration should address the issue at the earliest," Dasarathi Mohanty, a Puri-based resident said.

Issues of unclean drains, potholed roads and poor power supply dominated the first preparatory meeting of the forthcoming car festival at Puri recently. Rath Yatra is scheduled for June 21st.

"I have asked the drainage division to expedite renovation work of the clogged drain near Jagannath Temple. We regret the inconvenience caused to devotees," a senior Puri district officer said.