Cuttack: Historic annual Bali Jatra will be held from November 4 here as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday gave its conditional approval for the festival.
The green body directed the Bali Jatra organisers to ensure that the festival is free from plastic. Besides, it asked to make arrangements for cleaning of garbage and wastage daily from the Bali Jatra ground.
The festival will be held at lower and upper ground adjacent to Mahanadi embankment and 50 meters away from the river.
Meanwhile, the Cuttack district administration has geared up in making preparations for the festival. Around 1,400 stalls to be set up in an area of 43 acres. Vending zones will be established for makeshift shopkeepers.
Raghuram Aiyar, additional collector, Cuttack said for the first time special stalls will be set up for nursing mother and children.
Akhileswar Singh, Cuttack DCP, informed 35 platoons of police will be deployed to maintain law and order and crowd control. Apart from this, quick action team and anti terrorist squad will be pressed into service during the Bali Jatra festival.