Sambalpur, Nov. 6: The toll free helpline number introduced by the civic body here for registration of complaints by local residents is not getting responses from the people.
The Sambalpur Municipal Corporation had introduced the number in April this year and it had expected at least 50 calls a day on civic complaints.
"People are not calling the number because they don't know about the service. The toll free number had been mentioned clearly on corporation vehicles so that people come to know about the service. However, only four to five people are registering their complaints through the helpline," said a civic body official.
To avail the service, local residents just need to dial the helpline number on working days to get their complaints registered on dumping of garbage, street lights, sanitary workers, waste collection and construction of roads and drains. After the complaint is registered, it is recorded and forwarded to the departments concerned.
"Few people know that such a service exists. The municipal corporation should have made arrangements to promote the service before introducing it," said local resident Antaryami Panigrahi.
Deputy commissioner of the municipal corporation Sudhansu Bhoi admitted that very few people were registering their complaints through the helpline. "Steps will be taken to inform people about the helpline," he said.
Bhai said a website would also be launched by the corporation shortly so that people are able to register their complaints through the site as well.