Cleanliness in Bhubaneswar: A Reality Check

The city administration claims that it has implemented waste management rules strictly to ensure cleanliness under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

However, the ground reality in some of the major government establishments in the city tells a completely different story.

Secretariat

The seat of the state administration houses nearly 39 departments, including the housing and urban development department, which has the responsibility of implementing the Swachh Bharat project. Though more than 4,000 employees visit the premises, cleanliness remains a casualty with piles of garbage lying unattended at different places.

One of the dirtiest corners was seen near the parking lot close to the rear entrance of the building. Officials have not taken care to keep the premises clean

Heads of the departments office

This is the second most important government building in the city after the secretariat. Popularly known as “Nautala”, this nine-storied building houses several important offices. Piles of construction material are dumped on the premises of the building, which has been under renovation for the past two years.

Regular cleaning does not seen to be a priority here. Waterlogging in parts of the building makes the situation worse. Visitors have to make their way through discarded waste lying scattered on the premises. Garbage near the main entrance of the building is an eyesore, while pan chewers have done their bit to make the interiors dirty

Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation

The civic body, which is supposed to collect, segregate and process all kinds of waste from different parts of the city, seems to have neglected its own premises. One can spot piles of garbage near the main gate. Moreover, the stench from the waste pollutes the air. There is garbage littered even inside the premises at different places.

The huge waste bins placed in front part of the building are not being maintained properly. The corporation, which collects garbage from all over the city, apparently does not care to lift waste material from its own premises and the neighbourhood

Bhubaneswar Development Authority

The development authority, which mainly looks after land and construction related activities, is supposed to ensure planning and keep the city clean, but a look at its surroundings would make one hang one’s head in shame. A heap of garbage can be spotted just outside the boundary wall.

It has for all practical purposes been converted into an unauthorised dumping site. Cleanliness here is not a priority

Office of the chief conservator of forest

The office of the chief conservator of forest seems to have turned a blind eye to cleanliness on its own premises and the surroundings.

Although the premises have a good number of trees, just outside the office one can see piles of debris dumped from a nearby construction site. Residents said that the debris had been lying there for
the past fortnight.It blocks the path of pedestrians

Mayor’s residence

The city’s first citizen, Ananta Narayan Jena, has his official residence at Unit-I, one of Bhubaneswar’s busiest areas. Though the Bhubaneswear Municipal Corporation under him seeks to achieve the objectives of the Swachh Bharat Mission and the civic body even insisting on collecting user fee from citizens for littering, Jena has failed to keep his own surroundings clean. One can see construction material lying right in front of his residence.

Residents said that the construction materials had been lying for nearly a week. Ironically, to prohibit such dumping, the corporation is set to implement new construction waste management rules in the city from March next year.

Courtesy: The Telegraph