Bhubaneswar: The much-awaited city’s biggest annual open-air fair kicked off on Sunday with strong focus on hygiene and public safety. To ensure cleanliness across the sprawling venue, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has deployed as many as 120 sanitation workers, who will operate in three shifts daily over the next 12 days.The mela, which draws thousands of visitors each year, made elaborate arrangements to accommodate 500 sadhus, seven ‘jatra’ (theatre) troupes and over 600 stalls offering food, crafts and entertainment. With such a massive congregation, maintaining hygiene has become a top priority for civic authorities.To beef up monitoring, the mobile food safety laboratory team, the sanitation and hygiene inspection for neat environment (SHINE) team, and the food enforcement squad are conducting joint inspections on the fairground. The SHINE team, formed in August 2023, was tasked with ensuring vendors adhere to sanitation norms and proper waste disposal practices.Food safety officials already inspected stalls selling popular items such as sweets, chaat, dahibara and ghuguni. Raids will continue throughout the mela to prevent sale of stale or unhygienic food. “The aim is to ensure that visitors don’t consume poor quality food and suffer. We found several kiosks storing food without refrigeration for days, which is unacceptable,” said BMC deputy commissioner Rakesh Patra.The SHINE team was also instructed to patrol eateries during peak evening hours. Vendors failing to use twin dustbins for dry and wet waste or littering the surroundings with disposable plates and leftovers will face fines. Civic officials emphasised that strict enforcement is necessary to maintain the mela’s reputation as a safe and enjoyable cultural gathering.With thousands expected to throng the venue daily, the combined efforts of sanitation staff and food safety squads are aimed at keeping the fairground clean and ensuring visitors enjoy the festivities without health risks. The mela, known for its vibrant atmosphere and spiritual significance, is expected to remain a major attraction until its conclusion next week.To ensure safety and security, the BMC will also install 100 CCTV cameras at the venue, while a dedicated 24-hour control room will operate. It will have representatives from all relevant departments to handle emergencies and coordinate responses.“We will ensure proper facilities for Naga saints and pilgrims, including toilets, drinking water supply, adequate lighting and enhanced security. Health camps and mobile toilet units will also be there for the participants,” the mayor said.The mela will also honour 144 saints and distinguished personalities. It will feature five mahayajnas aligned with Magha Purnima and Ravi-Pushya Yoga. Alongside, stalls for traders and temporary cottages for visiting saints will be set up, officials said.
