Some enthusiastic local residents have taken up the task of cleaning statues and busts in Jagatsinghpur town. Telegraph picture

Paradip, March 15: A group of enthusiastic people in Jagatsinghpur district headquarters town has taken up the onus of restoring the glory of long-neglected memorial statues.

Around 30 memorial statues and busts of eminent personalities such as Dr B.R. Ambedkar, poet Bira Kishore Das, former chief minister Naba Krishna Choudhury, father of modern Orissa Gopabandhu Das and scientist Prana Krishna Parija among others can be found at every nook and corner of the town.

Once every month, these volunteers move around town to clean up these memorial pieces.

“Installing statues of great figures is a mark of respect to them. However, leaving their statues abandoned and deserted is an act of dishonour to these eminent personalities,” said Arun Acharya, one of the men involved in the clean-up job.

“We had drawn the attention of authorities concerned. But it went unheeded. So, we resolved to take up the job all by ourselves,” said Sanatan Biswal, another volunteer.

“On the last Sunday of every month, we take a break from our respective work and move from one place to another for cleaning up the statues. The clean-up job costs us a little. We bear the cost of only two kilos of detergent powder and a couple of washing brushes. The material cost plus our manual labour is enough to give the stained memorials a refreshing look. We spend at least eight hours to clean them completely,” said Pabitra Mitra, another volunteer of the group.

“We had come across an article from a daily newspaper that an organisation in Mumbai is indulging itself in such work. We thought over it seriously. Then we decided to perform a similar task for our society,” said Mitra.

“Initially we were ridiculed. Some described it as a publicity stunt. But we took everything in our stride. We would continue with this monthly mission as it is giving us immense satisfaction,” added Mitra.

However, the memorial statue of late Biju Patnaik does not come under monthly clean-up work of these enthusiasts.

As the party named after him is in power in the state for more than a decade, the statues and busts of late Biju babu are properly taken care of. Sadly, there are no takers for the rest of the memorial pieces.

“We have spared Biju babu’s statues as they are kept well-maintained,” said one of the volunteers.

However, the district culture officer Pitamber Swain feigned ignorance of neglect meted out to other memorial statues.“There are no budgetary provisions for maintenance of such memorial statues,” he said.