Odisha Govt Steps Up Public Health Measures Ahead of Rath Yatra

In anticipation of the grand Rath Yatra in Puri, the Odisha Government has launched a series of proactive steps to prevent the outbreak of waterborne diseases and ensure public health safety during the festival.

Following the directive of Housing & Urban Development Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, a high-level review meeting was convened in Puri on Wednesday. The meeting, chaired by Principal Secretary of the Housing & Urban Development Department, was attended by the Puri District Collector, SP, and senior officials from WATCO, Puri Municipality, and other key departments.

The officials focused on critical areas including access to safe drinking water, food safety, and enhanced sanitation measures across Puri. To ensure water quality, WATCO will conduct random testing of samples from public and private water sources, including overhead tanks, tube wells, and packaged water plants. A mobile Lab-on-Wheels has also been stationed in the city to facilitate on-the-spot testing.

Water disinfection activities are currently underway and will be scaled up in the days leading to the festival. In an added layer of precaution, Jalasathis will collect water samples from households to boost surveillance and build public confidence.

The Food Safety Wing is intensifying inspections at restaurants, hotels, and street food stalls. Given the expected influx of devotees, the Health & Family Welfare Department has been urged to deploy additional food safety personnel for citywide monitoring.

To spread awareness, Puri Municipality has been directed to launch aggressive campaigns promoting safe drinking water and hygienic food habits, including loudspeaker announcements and the distribution of IEC (Information, Education and Communication) materials.

In a unique initiative to combat mosquito breeding, drones are being used to spray repellents in densely populated and hard-to-reach areas of Puri. Enforcement teams, backed by police, will keep a close watch on unhygienic practices and littering, particularly around the sea beach and festival venues.

For ground-level execution, eight Executive Officers and seven Engineers have been deployed, while the Director (Operations) of WATCO has been stationed in Puri to oversee all water supply and sewerage operations during the Rath Yatra period.

Principal Secretary G. Mathivathanan reiterated the government’s commitment to safeguarding public health and hygiene. “All departments are working in close coordination to ensure a safe and smooth Rath Yatra for devotees and residents alike,” he said.