(From top) Garbage dumped beside the road, a clogged drain at Khapuria Industrial Estate and a potholed road in the same area. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, March 7: Basic civic amenities like good roads and sanitation facilities have become a distant dream for people living close to the Khapuria Industrial Estate.

“There are big potholes on the roads and no steps are being taken to keep the area clean,” said Prabhakar Sahoo (35), a local resident. According to Sahoo, the road from the Government Press side to Panchamukhi Hanuman temple is in bad shape and no steps are being taken for its repairs. One can also find heaps of garbage dumped on the roadside near the Government Press area.

“There are no good roads and no provision for adequate street lighting at the industrial estate,” said Subhendu Moharana, owner of the Maa Engineering unit.

As there is no provision for dumping waste items, many fabrication units are discharging their wastes into the drains and dumping them on the roadside. The Khapuria Industrial Estate is the oldest industrial complex in the state established in 1955. At present there are more than 100 small and medium scale industries located here.

“We are facing a lot of problems due to lack of adequate measures for clearance of garbage, drainage channels and other issues,” said Anant Tripathy, president of Orissa Young Enterprenuers’ Association (OYEA). “We pay industrial maintenance charges to the Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) for all-round development of the area. But the condition of drains and roads are bad and the sanitation situation is in a shamble,” Tripathy said.

Local councillor Santosh Bhol said that adequate steps were being taken for the development of the area. “Though IDCO is responsible for the maintaining sanitation in the area, we are also engaging our sweepers for removal the garbage and cleaning the drains,” said Bhol.

At present, around 42 sanitary staff are engaged to maintain the ward’s cleanliness. Many drains are collapsing at different points and the natural path of several of them has been blocked. Work for the removal of silt has begun in many places along with repairs of existing drainage channels, he said, adding that the work was expected to be completed soon.