Cuttack, Sept. 20: The civic body faces a huge cleanliness challenge as solid waste is expected to witness an increase of nearly 25 per cent during the six-day festive period.

Cuttack generates 300 to 350 metric tonnes of municipal waste daily and civic officials conceded that the collection and disposal rate continues to be not more than 70 per cent.

With Dussehra less than a week away, civic official expect an estimated increase of nearly 75 metric tonnes of solid waste at the 160 Puja pandals. This increase, they fear, will pose further problems for the civic body to carry out sanitary measures.

However, Sarat Dash, health officer of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation, today told The Telegraph that 'a special sanitation drive will be initiated for the festival'.

'As part of the special drive, two sanitary workers will be engaged for round-the-clock sweeping near Puja pandals, while a bin will be provided to each pandal,' Dash said.

'Besides, all the Puja committees will be asked to dump garbage and solid waste at the assigned points to ensure smooth collection,' he said.

After a five-year contract with Ramky Enviro Engineers Limited of Hyderabad for municipal solid waste collection and disposal expired in April last year, the civic administration allowed it to continue on a monthly contract basis till the fresh award was made. The company has performed its job with much reluctance, resulting in poor sanitation scenario in several parts of the city.

Gamhandia resident Pravas Parida said: 'Delay in collection of municipal waste has been a recurring feature in several localities. Garbage lies strewn for most parts of the day.'

Telenga Bazar resident Pradip Sahu said: 'Sweeping and timely clearance of solid waste will be essential to maintain cleanliness near pandals, which will attract huge footfall.'

Ranjan Kumar Biswal, chairman of the civic body's standing committee for health and sanitation, said: 'A squad of sanitary inspectors will monitor garbage collection and disposal during the festival.'

'Apart from engaging sanitary workers in two shifts, additional vehicles will be pressed into service to lift garbage during Dussehra,' Biswal said.