Garbage dumped in a vacant plot at Basudev Nagar in ward No. 5. Pictures by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, May 6: A special grant of Rs 52 lakh promised by the housing and urban development department to address civic problems of Basudev Nagar near the Gada Gopinath Prasad colony at ward No. 5 remains a far cry.

Local councillor Pratap Kumar Routray said: “The estimate for the road and drain development work at the colony was done last year after which a House committee recommended a special grant of Rs 52 lakh. However, we haven’t yet received the funds. We can only do something when the money is available with the civic body.”

Municipal commissioner Sanjib Kumar Mishra said: “We have to find out the grant’s status. Steps can only be taken after that. If the funds are released, work can start according to the plan.”

Red tape on part of the authorities appears to be the reason behind the delay in sanctioning funds for the project. It has taken a toll on local residents, who have to put up with problems such as lack of proper roads, drains and a solid waste collection mechanism.

The colony was developed in 1998. But till date, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has provided only streetlights. The bad road condition and dumping of garbage in vacant plots add to visual pollution at the colony, which is home to more than 1,000 residents.

The House committee had inspected the colony near the eastern bank of the Daya West canal. Last October, the housing and urban development department promised the special grant of Rs 52 lakh to develop the roads and drain network.

President of the Basudev Nagar Residents Welfare Association S.K. Nayak said: “On hearing about the special grant for road construction and drainage work at the colony, we have discussed the matter with top officials of the civic body. They also assured us to do the needful. But, it is yet to take place. During monsoon, we suffer a lot as the roads in many low-lying pockets of the colony get waterlogged.”

“So far, we, the residents, ourselves have taken up the initiative to develop the condition of all the roads here. Now, we want the civic authorities to come forward to do the needful,” Nayak said.

Polythene, plastic and other wastes can be seen dumped on vacant plots because of the lack of a dedicated solid waste management system.

“As the civic authorities are not directing any collecting agent to take the garbage away, the residents tend to use the vacant plots for the purpose, creating an unhealthy atmosphere. Moreover, waterlogging also ushers in mosquito menace in the area,” said secretary of the association Sukanta Kumar Behera.