A conservancy lane replete with wild bushes in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, July 29: When incidents of dengue fever are being reported from across the state, residents here complained that though conservancy lanes behind their houses had become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and safe havens for venomous reptiles, there was none to clean them.

As the monsoon is into the third month, people are worried as the conservancy lanes remain filled with wild bushes and garbage. They said that the usual practice for the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) was to clean the lanes before monsoon hit the city. But for the last two years, the BMC has faltered in its duty.

Officials of the civic body said that this year three private parties had been given the contract to clear garbage and clean these lanes along with the corporation. The private bodies, however, claimed said that they had been cleaning the conservancy lanes.

An official of one of a private operator said that they had been cleaning conservancy lanes work in their wards.

“As we started work very late, hardly two months ago, we have failed to cover all areas. Besides, we have appealed to the people not to dump any garbage behind their homes and try to keep these lanes clean,” he said.

“Plants and weeds have grown wild behind our houses. Every now and then, snakes and scorpion enter our homes,” said Tatwa Prakash Sahu, a Saheed Nagar resident.

Similarly, many such conservancy lanes in Satya Nagar, Unit-I, II, III, VI, VIII, IX, Bhoi Nagar, Madhusudan Nagar, Ashok Nagar and other such areas in central parts of the city remain unclean. The situation elsewhere is no better.

“The lane behind our house has not been cleaned for over two years. Whenever we complain, BMC workers come and clean a bit, but they don’t care about long-term measures. Besides, stagnant water in these lanes becomes breeding place for mosquitoes. If the authorities do not act, there would be an outbreak of dengue and other diseases,” said Sunanda Rout, a resident of Ashok Nagar.

City health officer (CHO) Chandrika Prasad Das, who was in charge of conservancy lane cleaning till last year, said that private contractors who clear garbage would clean these lanes from this year.

Jagruti, Ramkay and PMR have been carrying out garbage disposal job in 57 of the 67 wards. While Jagruti conducts cleaning work in 27 wards, the other two have 15 each under them. The BMC, however, cleans 10 wards.