Bhubaneswar, Oct. 18: The housing and urban development department has urged the municipal corporation to launch a drive to clean the urban surroundings that have become unhygienic in the wake of cyclone Phailin.

The department has slammed the civic body for putting public health in danger and asked it to ensure better sanitation facilities.

At a meeting chaired by chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday, Bhubaneswar (Ekamra) MLA Ashok Panda had criticised the civic body on this count.

In a letter to the municipal commissioner yesterday, development commissioner and additional chief secretary to the housing and urban development department Injeti Srinivas asked the civic body to evolve a comprehensive action plan to ensure proper sanitation and hygiene in the city.

The letter also said that a large number of sweepers were not reporting to duty and the situation was no different in wards where the job of cleaning had been assigned to private contractors.

While sanitation of 40 wards is being managed by private contractors, the civic body takes care of the remaining 20 wards.

The letter also warned officials neglecting duty of stern action.

Sources in the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation said that though it had around 900 sweepers, attendance over the last few days had been around 50 per cent.

“More than four days have passed since the cyclone hit, but the civic body has not yet been able to clean up the city. The normal day-to-day cleaning activities have not been regularly conducted,” said Nihar Pradhan, a resident of Rasulgarh.

After receiving the letter, the civic body has geared up for restoration of sanitation. Civic officials said 216 vehicles, including tractors and mini trucks, had been pressed in to action for this.

“Around 60 per cent of debris have been cleared so far. We have also sprayed bleaching powder in all wards,” said municipal commissioner Sanjib Kumar Mishra.