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Civic stir raises a stink in Bhubaneswar

M I Khan in Bhubaneswar

The temple city of Bhubaneswar has turned into a city of garbage, with the stand-off between civic employees and state government entering the 16th day on Wednesday.

The city wears a dirtier look with every passing day despite Urban Development Minister Samir Dey's repeated claims that the government has deployed the services of private agencies, National Cadet Corps and scouts for a clean-up.

The pile-up of garbage and overflowing drains have led to fears of an epidemic.

According to civic chief Dr Jagannath Mahapatra, the city generates nearly 400 metric tonnes of organic and inorganic garbage every day. Since all dumping yards are outside the city's limits, the civic corporation was entrusted with cleaning up all parts of the city every day and transporting the garbage to the yards.

Civic officials told rediff.com that as a result of the strike, the city is burdened with over 5000 tonnes of garbage, which is alarming.

"When you visit the market place, bus-stand or any posh locality, garbage will welcome you," he said.

More than old Bhubaneswar, which comprises the famous Lingraj temple and hundreds of small and medium temples, new Bhubaneswar appears to be worse hit by the strike.

Though environmentalists, social workers and health practitioners have warned the government and district administration about the possible health hazards, they are more concerned about the condition of slums. An estimated two lakh people live in the over 100 slums in the city.

"We have urged the government to launch a cleanness drive without delay," said environmentalist Banka Bihary Das.

The government claims it has taken measures to prevent an epidemic and has alerted district collectors to tackle any outbreak of water borne diseases. The government has also roped in the services of Sulabh International and Kalyani to launch cleaning-up operations.

Dey told rediff.com that the government was trying its best to clean up the city and prevent any outbreak of disease.

About 25,000 employees of 102 civic bodies, including the municipal corporations of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, are furious with the state government's threat of 'no work, no pay'.

The employees observed self-governance day as a black day. Amid deployment of security forces, the protestors hoisted black flags across the state, to press for their demands, which include state government employee status, implementation of the Fifth Pay Commission and pension.

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