Malkangiri: Open drains and cement slabs lying on roads might cause problems for hundreds of people who will come for the ‘Malayabanta’ festival, which is set to open December 6.
The holy pot bearers bring water from Gurupriya river and cover a distance of 70 km on foot to reach DJK play ground here December 6. From there, local people and members of various organisations take them in a rally that passes through DNK square, on the stretch in front of the Collector’s office and finally culminates at Jagannath temple.
Hundreds of people will take part in this rally.
However, cement slabs to be used for the construction work of the drain in front of the Collector’s office are lying there for the last two months.
The locals pointed out that these slabs are already causing problems for traffic and the situation is likely to aggravate during the festival.
Prior to drain construction, a design wall at Bandabakuli Sagar was constructed at a cost of Rs 20 lakh.
That wall was again pulled down and in its place a drain has been dug up.
While the drain is yet to be covered with cement slabs, the debris piled near the drain itself is another hurdle to traffic.
This apart, in case it rains, the debris flows down to the drain, leading to chocking.
When asked, National Highway executive engineer Harekrushna Panda said the concerned contractor would be asked to get the road cleared of the slabs. Action will be taken against the contractor if the slabs are not removed, he said.
PNN