Rath Jatra-2018: First preparatory meeting held

Bhubaneswar: The first preparatory meeting for this year's Rath Jatra was held at the State Secretariat in Bhubaneswar today.

Under the chairmanship of Health Minister, Pratap Jena, the meeting reviewed the healthcare arrangements to be made for the mega annual festival.

“We have formed a team, which will visit all hospitals in Puri and take stock of the existing issues,” Jena said.

Revenue Minister, Maheswar Mohanty, who was present in the meeting, said posts of 10 assistant surgeons and 13 specialists, which are currently vacant at the Puri District Headquarters Hospital, will be filled up before the Rath Jatra this year.

“Apart from this, vacant posts in Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and Community Healthcare Centres (CHCs) along the Puri-Bhubaneswar and Puri-Konark roads will be filled up soon,” Mohanty stated.

Puri Collector Arvind Agarwal, who was also present in the meeting said, “Six food inspectors will be deployed who will examine food and water quality. Besides, a mobile laboratory van will also be there to examine food quality.”