Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has 3194 regular and contractual sanitary employees, but solid waste management in the city remains a problem. Sandeep Mishra of The Telegraph went around town and found garbage lying dumped on several key stretches of the city 

Stretch I 

Patel Marg is an important link that connects Sachivalaya Marg near Indian Red Cross Bhawan to Bidyut Marg near Kalinga Stadium 

The scene
Waste materials, including construction and demolition waste, mud, drain sludge, thermocol, and plastic, lie dumped. Commuters have a tough time negotiating their way past heaps of garbage

The guilty
The corporation is building footpath on this stretch. This has led to accumulation of mud, along with construction and demolition waste. Residents here say work is going on for the past one year and it is nowhere near completion

Civic voice
Roads are swept regularly. Four large dustbins and six smaller ones have been placed there to collect garbage. We have also asked the contractor undertaking footpath construction to keep materials away from the road
Official, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation

Stretch II 

This stretch connects City Women’s College to Jagamara. The ever-busy Jagamara Road and Krushi Vihar Street fall on this stretch 

The scene

Every 100-200 metres of the 2.2km stretch remains littered with demolition waste

The guilty 

Several residential complexes are coming up in the area. The construction companies keep dumping waste on the stretch with the corporation oblivious about its duty. “Forget dumped wastes, the stretch doesn’t even have street lights. The corporation must have a strict mechanism to stop dumping of waste materials,” said resident and owner of electronic goods shop Bikash Meher

Civic voice

Zonal officers have been asked to address issues related to sanitation. They are conducting regular visits to various areas and slapping fines on violators 
Ananta Narayan Jena, mayor

Stretch III 

This is an important link — Biju Patnaik College Road — connects Jayadev Vihar Square to Regional Plant Resource Centre, which is popularly known as Ekamra Kanan. 

The scene
Dumped garbage has reduced 40-metre wide road to almost half. Waste materials, including polythene, thermocol 
and mud are dumped all along the stretch

The guilty

A section of residents are blamed for dumping waste materials on the stretch and they blame the corporation for not providing enough dustbins. “There is lack of dustbins and we are forced to litter garbage in the open. The existence of a slum in the vicinity makes it worse. The civic body is equally to blame for the mess as they rarely lift garbage from the area,” said Pratik Mishra, a resident of Jayadev Vihar

Civic voice

Our private partner takes care of lifting and transporting municipal waste from the area. We have received complaints about irregularities on their part. I will personally look into the matter and take action if they are found negligent in duty
Ananta Narayan Jena, mayor

Stretch IV 

The Khandagiri Marg links Khandagiri Square to ITER Square. This route experiences the footfall of tourists, corporate employees and students

The scene

The recent rain has left the stretch inundated with wastes, non-biodegradable materials, floating in the water

The guilty

Choked drain and waterlogging has led to dumping of wastes on the sides of the road. Residents blame the corporation for not clearing garbage from the area

Civic voice

The corporation has been regular in cleaning drains, as well as the roads, in the area. We are clearing the wastes in a phased manner. I will ask the area’s sanitary inspector to look into the matter
Ananta Narayan Jena, mayor