Co-ordination meeting for Odisha Rath Yatra discusses security, health issues

Odisha SunTimes Bureau
Puri, June 22:

The last meeting of the Rath Yatra coordination committee, chaired by Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik, at the Town Hall here, discussed issues relating to safety and security of devotees, health and sanitation, communication, traffic control, supply of electricity and drinking water arrangement and smooth conduct of the grand Rath Yatra festival on June 29.

While the committee and representatives of servitor bodies refrained from discussing the controversial issue of devotees climbing atop chariots and touching of deities in view of the High Court’s verdict on the matter, it was decided to hold another meeting within two to three days to finalise a list of people who will be allowed to stay atop the chariots during the rituals.

The meeting was attended by Law minister Arun Kumar Sahoo, local MLA Maheswar Mohanty, Chief Secretary JK Mohapatra, DGP Prakash Mishra, Chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Arabinda Padhee, and secretaries of several departments.

Earlier, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik flagged off the air-conditioned bus service that would ply between Bhubaneswar and Puri.