Garbage dumped in an irrigation canal in the heart of Kendrapara town. Telegraph picture

Kendrapara, Feb. 17: Hygiene and sanitation measures have taken a backseat in this district headquarters township and this has exposed its residents to health hazards.

Heaps of garbage and waste remain piled up in this town as the Kendrapara Municipality is found wanting in discharging its mandatory function of ensuring a healthy civic life.

An elected urban local body took over the municipal administration here last November. But that didn’t change the civic situation. Things have only gone from bad to worse.

“There is gross absence of sanitation mechanism here. The atmosphere is unhealthy with garbage rotting everywhere. The municipal authorities have failed to discharge their duties,” said Hari Prasad Kar, a resident of the town.

Also, there is no sign of building a solid waste management treatment plant for disposal of bio-degradable waste to end the sanitation problem permanently. Though a piece of land has been earmarked for this purpose, the plant is yet to come up.

“Pathetic sanitary conditions of the town is a source of several health hazards. Stench emanating from the heaps of garbage is making life miserable for the residents. The municipal authorities are taking no steps even as the residents continue to suffer,” said Bibhu Prasad Mohanty, another resident.

“The municipality has not only failed in disposing waste, but it also did not do well in ensuring a proper sewerage and drainage network. The drains, which are full of dumped garbage, lie clogged and this results in filthy water spilling on to the roads,” said Rajanikanta Sahu, another resident of Kendrapara town.

It is another matter that Orissa High Court’s directives has made it mandatory for municipal authorities to install a waste treatment system in accordance with the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000.

In the absence of a proper waste management system, the Govari irrigation canal has become a garbage dump. The municipality’s scavenging staff dump wastes into the local waterbodies and pollutes those.

Besides poor sanitation, frequent waterlogging in residential areas and roads are major problems for residents here. Frequent waterlogging has also affected the condition of the town’s main road.

The municipal authorities, however, brushed aside charges of negligence and said the situation was improving.

“Sanitary measures are being streamlined. Ward councillors have been told to monitor the measures at periodic intervals. Efforts are also on to put in place the solid waste treatment system,” said chairman of Kendrapara Municipality Dhirendra Sahu.