No waste disposal system: Town turns into a garbage yard

The New Indian Express, Jan 19, 2008

BHAWANIPATNA: Garbage disposal has emerged as the biggest civic problem in Bhawanipatna. The streets are littered with garbage that spills out of dustbins and vats left around the town in the most unplanned way.

According to an estimate, Bhawanipatna town generates around 35 metric tonnes of garbage daily but in absence of adequate sanitary staff with the civic body, only 40 percent of the total garbage is cleared daily.

Sources said manpower at the disposal of the municipality is not commensurate with the increasing population and the growing township.

In 1974, population of the town was just 24,000 and at that time, the number of sweepers was 92 for 84-km municipal road. So far, many of the regular sanitary staff have retired and there are no substitutes.

Presently when the population has risen up to 1 lakh, just 58 regular and 19 casual sweepers are managing 234-km road.

Municipal chairman Niranjan Pradhan said in view of inadequate staff, it is a stupendous task to manage cleaning operation properly. Considering the total length of roads in the town, 468 sweepers are required.

Two years back, the civic body had submitted a project proposal for solid waste management to the Urban Development Department and the same was approved.

Under the 12th Finance Commission Grant of 2005-06 and 2006-07, Rs 27.04 lakh was provided to the Municipality for the purpose.

“But this amount has not been utilised yet due to non-supply of guidelines,” the chairman told. He said, “Even the equipment that was ordered for implementation of a waste disposal system has not been made available so far.

Besides, a solid waste disposal plant should be set up by the Government. Things would improve only if the project is implemented at the earliest,” Pradhan added.