Imposition of ban on polythene still eludes Bhubaneswar. File picture

Bhubaneswar, June 4: The government has been making a number of promises to implement environment-friendly measures to reduce pollution across the capital. However, a look at the progress report card does not inspire much confidence, at least in terms of the projects getting completed in time.

Solid waste

The solid waste management plant on the outskirts of the capital is yet to begin functioning as differences continue between Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation councillors and senior officials of the housing and urban development department over finalising the contract for the venture.

While urban development officials want a long-term contract (read seven-year contract) and that the city should be divided into two zones for the solid waste management project, the councillors want a short-term contract. They are also not in favour of dividing the city into zones for the purpose.

Consequently, the proposed plant at Bhuasuni on the city outskirts is hanging in the balance. At present, waste is being dumped at the site in landfills but the method is not considered environment-friendly. It also threatens to pollute the ground water sources in the area.

Polythene ban

The ban has worked in Cuttack but it is yet to become effective in Bhubaneswar. Environment minister Debi Prasad Mishra had admitted that the ban is yet to become effective in the capital city. “There is need for a major campaign against use of polythene,” Mishra had said in April.

The job of imposing the ban rests with BMC in coordination with the Odisha State Pollution Control Board. However, the corporation is yet to take it up seriously.

Clean Bhubaneswar

The much-hyped Clean Bhubaneswar campaign, funded by Commonwealth Local Government Forum, Good Practices Scheme and the BMC, was supposed to cover all the 60 wards of the city after its launch on April 16 last year. However, barring ward Nos. 22 and 47, there is no trace of the campaign anywhere else.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik had also flagged off a parimal rath (sanitation chariot) and a pada yatra (rally) to mark the launch of the campaign, which was also supposed to have involved schoolchildren.

Drainage & sewerage

A large part of the city is yet to have a proper sewer system. As a result of this, people in many areas have been dumping waste into the 10 natural drainage channels of the city, which have now become highly polluted. The ongoing sewer work in areas such as Old Town and Laxmisagar has a 2013 deadline but the project is running far behind schedule.

The water resources department has taken up the renovation of eight natural drains while Bhubaneswar Development Authority will try to clean and repair the other two. This work, too, is progressing slowly because of encroachment at several places.