Residents of Shivapuri at Jagatpur launch cleanliness drive and people wade through a waterlogged street in the locality. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Aug. 21: Many localities under the Cuttack Municipal Corporation remain uncovered in the cleanliness drive conducted by the district administration in the wake of dengue outbreak in the state.

Protesting against the civic body’s apathy, the residents of Shivapuri area under Jagatpur today launched a cleanliness drive at their locality under ward No. 44.

“Already one person from a nearby colony has tested positive for dengue. As no step was taken towards bush-cutting and maintaining overall sanitation, we decided to clean up our locality on our own,” said Pratima Behera, 57, a local resident.

Holding brooms in their hands, the residents cleared a large number of unchecked vegetation that had grown in abundance around the locality home to nearly 600 people.

The local residents said they had been living in the most unhygienic condition as there was no proper drainage system. All the wastewater, generated from the locality, is being deposited in various vacant and private lands.

Moreover, there is acute waterlogging at the area during rains. As a result, the residents have to wade through knee-deep water accumulated at the locality.

“As there is no drainage system, the wastewater gets accumulated in many areas which have now become a breeding ground for the mosquitoes. The civic officials have not initiated any measure towards spraying of mosquito oils here,” said Niroj Chandra Panda, 36, another local resident.

Panda said piles of garbage were lying scattered all around the locality.

The area is yet to be allotted with dustbins.

Many people were falling ill following consumption of contaminated water from the tubewells and wells as the piped water supply remained a distant dream for the residents, said Manoj Pradhan, 35, another local resident.

Local councillor Anita Mohanty said there were certain issues at the ward that needed urgent attention.

“The local residents were in panic following the dengue outbreak and they took up the cleanliness drive today. Though bush-cutting has been launched in some areas, others could have not been covered owing to lack of adequate manpower,” said Mohanty.

There is no disposal point of the main drain. As most of the residential colonies have come up in an unplanned manner, there has been a problem in drainage of wastewater from the locality.

However, the councillor has assured the residents to speed up the process towards the supply of piped drinking water to the locality.