Bhubaneswar, July 25: Garbage is piling up at several places across the city with the Bhuasuni dumping yard remaining inaccessible to the civic body for three days now.

Adding to this development is the threat by Daruthenga villagers, who have locked up the dumping yard. The villagers have been demanding relocation of the dumping yard and the proposed waste-to-energy plant to come up here. They have also threatened to kidnap mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.

With Bhuasuni remaining off limits, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation workers have been forced to use the secondary dumping site near the Sainik School, which is now overflowing with municipal waste.

"Most dustbins in our area are overflowing, and the stench is unbearable. The people staying nearby are the worst affected," said Rasulgarh resident Aradhana Mohanty.

The residents of Niladri Vihar, Sailashree Vihar, Old Town and Satya Nagar have similar complaints.

"We witnessed a similar situation when the dumping yard had been locked in March. The civic authorities should have a permanent solution, especially when the city is implementing the Smart City Project," said Niladri Vihar resident Sushree Priyadarshini.

GARBAGE SITE NEAR SAINIK SCHOOL

KHARAVELA NAGAR

UNIT-VIII

On July 19, the corporation, after a high-level meeting, decided to relocate the dumping ground to the nearby Tulsadeipur mouza, around 3km from the present site at Bhuasuni. However, they have stuck to their plan of setting up the waste-to-energy plant at Bhuasuni.

This decision upset the Daruthenga residents and they locked up the dumping yard on July 22.

With the villagers adamant on their demand, Jena last Saturday hinted that they would not compromise this time and use the dumping ground by deploying police force from today. Jena also hinted that there would be no more talks with the villagers.

 

"We are following the order of Orissa High Court, which allowed us to set up the waste-to-energy plant at Bhuasuni. We have decided to relocate the dumping yard as demanded by the villagers. But, they are hampering our work again. We will not tolerate this non-cooperation," said Jena.

Incensed by Jena's statement, the villagers began demonstrating at the dumping site and also threatened to kidnap him.

"We are fighting for our rights. We won't let the civic body pose a threat to our life by dumping waste in our area," said Daruthenga sarpanch Prashant Rout.