Hot seat - Ananta Narayan Jena
mayor, Bhubaneswar

The tenure of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation ends on December 9 and fresh polls are scheduled for January 8. As the outgoing mayor, what do you consider to be your achievements in the last five years?

I have given my 100 per cent to make this city, my hometown, beautiful and environment-friendly. We have undertaken a lot of work to provide basic amenities, such as clean roads, proper drinking water, streetlights, drainage system, slaughterhouse, buses, foot overbridges, night shelters and housing units to the poor. This state government, led by chief minister Naveen Patnaik, has been successful in starting dwelling projects for slum-dwellers.

Quite a few projects that the corporation announced have been delayed much beyond deadline - a second bus terminal at Pokhariput and foot overbridges are two examples. Why this inordinate delay?

Yes, I agree with you. The solid-waste treatment plant is also a case in point. We had started work but the high court put a stay order after a petition was filed. Thus the work got delayed. However, things have been set right now. Secondly, co-operation and involvement of several other departments are crucial to see a project through. If it does not happen on time, the work gets delayed. A single-window system is the solution.

You have just a few more days in office and then you will have to surrender your official car and other things, including your mobile number. What's next for you?

See, I have always lived life like a common man. I don’t aspire for power or position. The sole purpose of my life is to serve people. And in any case, I have never used the official car beyond work hours. I like to drive around the city on my motorcycle late at night or early in the morning.

That is how I interact directly with people and understand their problems. It also allows me to review the progress of various projects from the common man’s perspective. I have also requested authorities concerned to allow me to continue using my current phone number.

There are allegations that contractor raj is growing in the civic body. Quality of work is being compromised because of lack of accountability on the part of contractors. Don't you agree with this?

I don't think it exists now because after I took over as mayor, I have tried my best to streamline everything. And the quality of work is for everyone to see. We have constituted a number of committees. We also send inquiry teams to check the quality of work by involving engineers from various departments.

Are you interested in contesting Assembly elections?

I have always maintained that I am an ordinary worker of Biju Janata Dal. I have accepted whatever responsibility I have been given by chief minister Naveen Patnaik. I would continue to do so in future too.

Discrepancies have been reported in allotting shops in the vending zone. Few people are said to have managed to take over four to five shops in the zone. What steps are you taking in this regard?

Unfortunately, some people think that only they should prosper while others suffer. This attitude has to change. What might be happening is that one person takes possession of four to five shops under various names, including those of roadside vendors. However, we have not received any formal complaint in this regard. If any allegations come, we will certainly inquire into the matter and take appropriate action.

When cyclone Phailin hit the state in October, it was alleged that you preferred to transfer all the government machinery to Berhampur instead of supervising the situation and attending to victims in Bhubaneswar. How would you respond to this allegation?

The state is one. When the super cyclone in 1999 ravaged the state, assistance poured in from other states and even from abroad. So, now when our neighbouring district needs our help, how can we turn our back to them? The mayor of Berhampur had sought my co-operation and it was my duty to help. We cleaned the city in 10 days with the help of 260 special vehicles. I was in Bhubaneswar and monitoring the entire situation here.

lThere is a perception that your equation with Bhubaneswar MLAs is not good and that there is a concerted effort on their part to end your political career. Do you think there is any such threat perception?

None. I have absolutely no problem with the MLAs. I always work with a positive attitude and consider everyone as my friend. I have no enemies. I expect that whoever becomes the next mayor will also work with a positive attitude for the overall development of the city.

We have been seeing an illegal five-storey building being demolished in Bhubaneswar. Where was the corporation when the same building was being constructed over the last few years?

That was absolutely the responsibility of the community management group, which is led by the principal secretary of the general administration department. It has the corporation, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority and police as members. As far as we are concerned, our job is only to see if any building on the roadside is encroaching up on drains.

Whenever there is a bird-hit incident, airport authorities invariably point fingers at the corporation for failing to sanitise the areas around the airport. What is the status now?

We have done everything that was expected of us. The municipal commissioner has already shown photographic evidence of the work to airport authorities. We have shifted the fish market from Stewart School area to Unit-VI.

You seem to be following in the footsteps of chief minister Naveen Patnaik as far as bachelorhood is concerned. Have you vowed to remain a bachelor all your life?

Yes, that is my intention and decision.