Orissa high court directs ASI to adopt proactive approach towards keeping clean Satyabrata Stadium inside Barabati Fort

CUTTACK: Taking note of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation’s (CMC) purported resource constraints in maintaining cleanliness at Satyabrata Stadium inside the protected Barabati Fort area, the Orissa High Court has directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to adopt a proactive approach towards upkeep of the sports arena.Hearing a PIL on civic amenities and sanitation issues in the stadium, a two-judge bench of Justices K R Mohapatra and V Narasingh on May 14 observed :“Since Satyabrata Stadium functions under the Administrative Control of the ASI, this Court expects the ASI to take a proactive approach in ensuring cleanliness of the Stadium all the year round.”During the hearing, additional government advocate Debasis Nayak highlighted the difficulties faced by the CMC in deploying sanitation workers regularly at independent premises such as Satyabrata Stadium, which fall outside the corporation’s designated conservancy zones.Appearing virtually, CMC deputy commissioner (sanitation) Jubuli Behera informed the court that the sanitation wing functions on the basis of pre-assessed manpower allocation for routine conservancy operations across the city. He submitted that assigning workers to the stadium forces the corporation to divert manpower from existing conservancy points, adversely affecting regular cleaning activities elsewhere in Cuttack.

Taking note of the submissions, the bench directed that a joint meeting be convened between the CMC and the ASI to discuss a long-term mechanism for maintaining cleanliness in the stadium premises throughout the year. The minutes of the meeting are to be submitted before the court by June 22, 2026.Pending a permanent arrangement, the Judges ordered the CMC to continue cleaning operations at the stadium at least twice every week.As part of its intensified drive to reclaim the fort premises in 2005, the ASI took over portions of Satyabrata Stadium, which had been developed under the sports and youth affairs department after formation of the Orissa Council of Sports in 1957. While the ASI initially proposed demolition of parts of the sports complex to create gardens and avenues within the heritage zone, it later allowed sporting activities to continue in 2007 following opposition from sportspersons and allied organisations.The HC also took on record an affidavit filed by CMC city engineer Atanu Kumar Samanta regarding construction of three public toilet blocks for male, female and PwD users near the basketball court. According to the affidavit, the toilets are being constructed by the Cuttack Development Authority (CDA) and are expected to be completed within 15 to 20 days.The HC further directed authorities to make temporary drinking water arrangements at the stadium in view of prevailing heat conditions. WATCO general manager B.B. Behera informed the court that a tender has already been floated for permanent drinking water supply facilities in the premises.