Sambalpur, July 8: Sanitation has emerged as the biggest challenge for the Sambalpur Municipality, as issues relating to garbage dumping yard continue to remain unresolved.

The municipality was allotted 26 acres for dumping yard in Jamadarpali, 8kms from the city. The civic body has also spent more than Rs 1 crore on the site and constructed a boundary wall. But the land allotted for this purpose could not be used as dumping yard since nearby villagers have been opposing the project.

To add to the garbage problem, the agreement with the organisation that was lifting the garbage of the city has expired. The civic body has already invited tenders for managing sanitation in the city.

The local sub collector, additional sub collector and executive officer of Sambalpur Municipality had been to Jamadarpali to discuss about the dumping yard issue with the public representatives, but the discussion turned futile.

Anyone can see heaps of garbage lying at different parts of the city.

However, Sambalpur Municipality chairperson, Reena Trivedi, said: “We are now lifting the garbage with the help of casual labourers. Besides, we have invited tenders from private parties for sanitation and it will take only seven days to start the work, once the tender is finalised.”

The civic body chief said sanitation in 14 wards of the city would be looked after by the municipality, while sanitation of rest of the 15 wards would be managed by private parties, which qualify in the tender bid.

However, she admitted that the dumping yard deadlock was the biggest problem for the civic body.

“If we succeed in resolving the dumping yard issue in Jamadarpali, we will install a recycling plant there. We have a proposal to install the recycling plant in private public partnership (PPP) mode,” said the chairperson.

“As the villagers in Jamadarpali were opposing the dumping yard, we were disposing the garbage of the city in Pardhiapali, but the villagers there also opposed to it. I have discussed the matter with the collector. She has assured me that the administration will try to find out a solution to the problem,” added Trivedi.

Municipality executive officer, Subash Chandra Sethia said, “We had been to the site to discuss with the villagers of Jamadarpali. They are not at all ready to let the dumping yard function at that site. However, on 17th of this month, we will again discuss the matter with the villagers. We are hopeful that a solution will come out on that day.”

“Now dumping yard is the biggest problem for Sambalpur city. The administration should step in and try to resolve the problem as soon as possible,” said Tarun Meher, a local resident.

Sanitation has emerged as the biggest challenge for the Sambalpur Municipality, as the issues relating to garbage dumping yard continue to remain unresolved.

The municipality was allotted with 26 acres of land for dumping yard in Jamadarpali,8 kilometers from the city. The civic body has also spent more than Rs 1 crore on the site and constructed a boundary wall. But the land allotted for this purpose could not be used as dumping yard as yet since the neraby villagers have been opposing the proposed dumping yard.

To add to the garbage problem, the agreement with the organization which was lifting the garbage of the city has expired. The civic body has already invited tender for managing sanitation of the city.

As the dumping yard issue has remained unresolved, the local sub collector, additional sub collector and executive officer of Sambalpur Municipality had been to Jamadarpali to discuss about the dumping yard issue with the public representatives there but the discussion turned futile.

Anyone can see the heaps of garbage at different places in the city.

However, Sambalpur Municipality chairperson, Reena Trivedi, chairperson of Sambalpur Municipality said, “We are now lifting the garbage with the help of casual laborers.Besides, we have invited tenders from private parties for sanitation and it will take only seven days to start the work, once the tender is finalized.”

The civic body chief said sanitation in fourteen wards of the city will be looked after by the Municipality where as the sanitation of the rest 15 wards will be managed by the private parties which will qualify in the tender bid.

However, she admitted that dumping yard deadlock was the biggest problem for the civic body. 'If we succeed in resolving the dumping yard issue in Jamadarpali, we will install a recycling plant there. We have a proposal to install the recycling plant in private public partnership (PPP) mode.

As the villagers in Jamadarpali were opposing the dumping yard, we were dumping the garbage of the city in Pardhiapali, but the villagers there also opposed the dumping of the garbage. 'I have discussed the matter with the collector. She has assured me that the administration will try to find out a solution to the problem,' said she

Municipality executive officer, Subash Chandra Sethia said, “We had been to the site to discuss with the villagers of Jamadarpali. They are not at all ready to let the dumping yard function at that site. However, on 17th of this month, we will again discuss the matter with the villagers. We are hopeful that a solution will come out on that day.”

“Now dumping yard is the biggest problem for Sambalpur city. The administration should step in and try to resolve the problem as soon as possible, otherwise the city will be converted into a dumping yard,” said Tarun Meher, a local resident.