Jagannath temple wells drying up;servitors express concern

Puri, Apr 22 (UNI) The water levels in 'Ganga' and 'Jamuna' the two wells of Sri Jagannath temple, were fast depleting causing concern among the temple cooks and servitors.

The temple cooks and servitors apprehended acute water shortage for preparation of ''mahaprasad'' offered to Lord Jagannath in coming days.

The water from the two wells was being used for cooking the ''prasad''since time immemorial and the water level had neverposed any threat to the temple in the past.

Temple servitors said the situation would soon take an ugly turn if the temple administration did not implement the technical committee report to augment the water level of these two wells.

Following hue and cry in the media over water shortage in the temple affecting the mahaprasad preparation, the state Housing and Urban Department had appointed a four-member technical committee headed by engineer Jagdish Pattnaik in 2005 to ascertain the cause of water shortage and suggest possible remedies.

The committee found presence of high nitrate percentage in the under ground water near the temple and warned that it would pose threat and health hazards to the residents, particularly children.

It recommended to the government to protect Baliapanda and Chakratirth-the underground sweet water zone, by laying a sewer system, to regulate indiscriminate drawing of under ground water through bore wells by commercial establishments around the temple.

The Committee also suggested for a leak proof sewer system in the residential areas located in close proximity to the temple and for effective management of solid waste besides renovation of the temple wells.

The state government accepted the recommendations of the committee and asked the district magistrate and the temple administration to implement the recommendations.

Although two years had already passed since the committee submitted its recommendation, no effective measure has been taken to implement the recommendation.

UNI