Bhubaneswar, Sept. 10: Rasulgarh industrial estate has become a potential breeding ground for dengue mosquitoes.

The area has several industries, including a bread factory and printing press. With open drains and waste accumulating on the roadside, the area's cleanliness is a far cry from the smart city vision. Construction activity on the stretch between Rasulgarh and Saheed Nagar railway crossing has made matters worse.

Narendra Kumar Swain, 45, a local businessman said the area adjacent to Rasulgarh village has remained neglected. "Water has accumulated in several places following rain where mosquitoes breed. Yet no cleanliness drive is being undertaken here," he rued.

Swayamprakash Panda, 56, a lawyer and resident of Vasundhara Apartment, said the road leading to the apartment had several potholes.

"The road from the industrial area to Saheed Nagar level crossing is yet to be concretised. Due to plying of heavy construction vehicles on the road, it has developed several potholes where water accumulate after rain and become ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes," he stated, adding open defecation by slum dwellers residing beside the railway line had added to the problem.

Rasulgarh industrial area is near Vani Vihar railway station. The railways had started work on a new line from the Bhubaneswar railway station to the new station coming up near Baranga. Even as the work on the new line has been halted, construction materials are strewn all over.

Besides, several trucks that arrive in the area from other states are parked on the roadside at night.

Samarendra Padhi, 62, who runs a printing press in the area, said that the drivers and helpers of the trucks used an open stretch near Cesu office for open defecation.

"A separate area should be earmarked for parking of the trucks. Besides, toilet facilities should be constructed for the truckers so that cleanliness can be maintained," he said.

The condition is similar near an old building that is now used by a theatre troupe. Padhi said the civic authorities should focus on cleaning up the area on a priority basis.

"A cleanliness drive was conducted in the area when dengue cases were reported from Bhubaneswar. However, it continued for a couple of days and was called off," he added.

BMC councillor of ward No. 31 Kumarendra Mohapatra said the civic body was working actively to lift waste materials from the area. "In the first phase, some drains have been cleaned and the waste taken out will be disposed of," he said, adding Idco had been urged by BMC to direct industries in the area to take care of the condemned machinery. Mohapatra said fogging machines would also be used to sanitise the area.

Mayor Anant Narayan Jena said maintaining cleanliness in industrial areas was a priority for the civic body to prevent outbreak of diseases such as dengue. He added that a cleanliness drive would be started at Rasulgarh Industrial Area to keep the area clean.