Baramunda bus stand
On February 16, Bhubaneswar municipal commissioner Krishan Kumar had tweeted: “Visited Baramunda bus stand after receiving feedback. Perhaps dirtiest place in our city. Will try to fix. Thanks for feedback.”

The same day, Kumar had visited Baramunda bus stand and his team collected Rs 52000 as fine for illegal dumping of waste. Kumar’s action has failed to change things as people continue to illegally dump garbage in the open and civic workers fail to clear them regularly. The hotels and other street vendors also litter the area.  Lack of public toilets is a major concern. Vendors complain that corporation officials fines on violators, but they are yet to provide adequate dustbins. “Where will we dump our garbage?” said a vendor. They also alleged that the civic authorities were not lifting garbage regularly.

Bhubaneswar railway station
Shortly after his February 16 trip to the railway station, Kumar had tweeted: “Sanitation around railway station not up to mark. Fines to be levied on railway station manger, hotels and vendors today. Will enforce same.”

Though much has been promised, nothing has been done yet. The common refrain of complaints against the civic body is also the same — not enough waste bins. The two-wheelers parking yard has turned into a dumping yard for all. Roadside hoteliers continue to dump paper plates and waste food material. The other big worry is plastic waste, mainly water bottles that are dumped in the parking yard. No one has ever bothered to clear it.

Biju Patnaik International Airport
A huge pile of garbage greets those who fly into the city. 

The airport that handles at least 3000 people daily has only a 5x5 ft room serving as a garbage bin, which is not sufficient. The tiny room has two windows, one for bio-degradable and non-biodegradable. Ironically, most people are not aware of the difference between the two.

Capital Hospital
The state’s biggest public hospital has also violated solid and biomedical waste management rules. Despite having a designated waste disposal zone, used syringes can be seen dumped near the main entrance of the hospital. The civic body 
officials are yet to crack down on the hospital.

Pictures by Ashwinee Pati