Bhubaneswar: The civic body is planning to roll out the central government's "Neighbourhood Action Plan" by involving more local people to ensure a clean city.
The Centre devised the plan and asked urban local bodies across the country to implement it. The initiative's primary agenda is to involve more and more people in the cleanliness mission.
"We have received the direction from the Centre and decided to implement the initiative here. Residents of various areas under our ambit will be encouraged to be a part of this initiative," said mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.
The neighbourhood action plan would include activities, such as segregation of waste at source, compost creation out of wet waste on household premises, recycling of dry waste, and ensuring the neighbourhoods remain free from open defecation and open urination.
The central government has also asked the civic body to rope in volunteers who would encourage residents to keep their localities clean by not throwing garbage in the open and using waste bins. Various residents' welfare associations will also be encouraged to adopt a nearby park or open space for collection and segregation of waste.
"This initiative has already been implemented in New Delhi on a pilot basis. We will closely study how they have implemented the action plan in their areas, along with its outcome, and try to incorporate the same in the city. We hope to include more and more people in the process," said a senior civic official.
Social worker Alok Mohanty said that much of the city could be kept clean with the help of individuals.
"One should be made aware of civic senses. We cannot go and blame the civic body for everything dirty around us. Their job is to provide the essential infrastructure, while it is up to us to use those in proper manner," said Mohanty.
Damana resident Ritesh Mohapatra said that the civic body should first set up adequate toilets and install enough waste bins.
"There are many areas where solid waste management is a mess. The civic body should set up infrastructure there on priority basis and then ask people to maintain cleanliness," said Mohapatra.
