Paradip, July 6: The state government and the Paradip Port Trust (PPT) are locked up in an unsavoury tug of war over implementation of the World Bank-funded solid waste management project under the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Programme (ICZMP) in Paradip.

The Rs 16-crore project has hit a roadblock with the PPT shying away from providing 22 acres required for the programme.

The state government, recently has taken exception to the delay on part of the PPT in land allotment. World Bank grants would go in waste if the PPT does not evince interest in implementation of such public utility and environment-friendly project, sources said.

“The PPT is found wanting in reciprocating in the form of diverting the port land for it. The port trust should expeditiously allocate the required land without further delay, as Paradip lacks the solid waste treatment facility,” said additional district magistrate of Paradip Saroj Kanta Choudhury.

“The PPT had informed us giving the land near Rangiagada. The Industrial Development Corporation was custodian of the said land and not the PPT,” said Choudhury.

“We are looking for land for early commissioning of the project,” said PPT chairman G. Jagannath Rao. “The state government does not own the required 22 acres. The PPT would have to locate the land for the project,” said Kujang tehsildar Vasudev Pradhan.

The PPT is hit by land crunch. Paradip goes without an urban solid waste management and treatment system with accumulated solid wastes sparking off pollution and unhygienic environment. At present, the solid waste is being disposed of in a dumpyard on the city outskirts. However, its hazardous effect is largely felt in localities near the dumpyard at Bangalipada.

“As per the ICZM project, the state-of-the-art solid waste treatment plant would be installed once the PPT provides the land,” said Jagatsinghpur collector Narayan Chandra Jena.

Everyday, 48 metric tonnes of solid wastes and garbage are generated from the municipality jurisdiction. There is the need to treat and process it for maintenance of hygiene here. But, the filth and garbage fill the air with stench smell. Moreover, the dumpyard has turned into a congenial breeding ground for mosquitoes.