Garbage dumped on the road in Unit-IX. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 12: Dumped construction debris and garbage beside a road running parallel to Janpath at Unit-IX near a few schools have caused resentment among local residents.

People alleged that the authorities had removed the debris from the roadside a few months ago. But, the dumping has started again.

Parents and guardians dropping off and picking up their children from schools nearby use the stretch as a parking zone during opening and closing hours.

“The dumped garbage adds to visual pollution. Besides, it eats into the parking area. Now, vehicles ferrying school kids have to be parked on the road during peak hours due to space crunch. The garbage not only stinks, but also congests the area,” said local resident Ratikant Sahu.

Guardians of the school kids alleged that the authorities have turned a blind eye to the situation.

“Despite complaining several times, the authorities seemed unconcerned,” said Rashmita Senapati, mother of a child studying at a nearby school.

The area houses a convent school, a central school and a state government-run school along with public offices.

Sk Nizamuddin, councillor of ward No. 36, under which the area falls, said: “Contractors deployed by the public works department dump the debris here. Some private contractors also do the same.”

Nizamuddin said he had apprised the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation officials of the matter and suggested that the space be converted into a park. “We have given a proposal to the state government to sanction Rs 32 lakh to build a wall around the free space, and later, develop it into a park. The nearby convent school authorities have assured us they would take care of the park,” he said.

Executive engineer (division-I) of the works department Manoranjan Tripathy, however, denied the allegation regarding dumping of garbage.

“We have instructed our contractors not to dump garbage on the stretch. Even if they dump it there, they remove it within two to three days,” said Tripathy.

City health officer Chandrika Prasad Das, who is in charge of garbage disposal in the city, said the matter had been dealt with at the commissioner and secretary level. “Earlier, the works department personnel used to dump debris in the area. The commissioner wrote to the department to stop doing so. If the problem persists, we will take care of it,” said Das.