FOCUS ORISSA Dr. Prafulla Kumar Jena
It will be possible to make Bhubaneswar a clean city, fit as the capital of Orissa, and also a Smart city
Centuries back, the kings of Orissa (Kalinga) had selected Bhubaneswar as the capital of the province because of its favourable location, natural beauty, soothing climate, availability of vast landmass and abundant fresh water resources. During the British period too, in the early 20th Century, Bhubaneswar got the same prominence.
When Bhubaneswar was selected as the capital of Orissa in 1936, it was full of green trees, natural forests with various wild animals. It boasted of a large number of water bodies including the scenic Bindusagar, Kedar Gouri, Ganguanala, Kuakhai and Daya rivers. It was then hoped that this would be an ideal planned capital with a clean and beautiful environment, that’s also rich with unique arts and architectures of the old temples. Today, much of the hopes to see Bhubaneswar as a beautiful and clean city have been dashed.
Bhubaneswar is now a city having all types of pollutants both on its land and in its water bodies as also air. Some of the problems faced by the city are as follows: Nearly 90 per cent of the trees and greenfields have disappeared; most of the water bodies particularly Kuakhai and Daya rivers and the sacred Bindusagar are highly polluted; and the Ganguanala, once a natural and fresh waterbody, has been converted into a dirty sewage outlet that heads directly to the rivers. Most of the wetlands have been replaced by multistoried buildings and commercial hubs. As a result, the people in Bhubaneswar get low-grade water for drinking and other domestic purposes and suffer from waterborne diseases.
The city has developed in a clumsy manner with random additions of slums, cowsheds etc. In addition, illegal encroachments are common. Filthy urban and commercial garbage dumps are accumulating in different parts of the residential and market areas. Stray dogs and cattle further aggravate this polluting atmosphere.
The rapid increase in the number of vehicles on the road is a serious problem. They are polluting the atmosphere with poisonous exhaust gases, dust and carbon particles. And, there is the problem of noise pollution. Due to depletion of green cover (trees) and wetlands, in the recent past, there have been major climatic deviations. Bhubaneswar, which never experienced a temperature of more than 340C even in the hottest summer, is today one of the hottest places in the country. In recent summers, the temperature went up to 410C to 420C. Frequent electricity cuts add to the sufferings of the residents.
In order to make this famous temple city a suitable capital of the state and also a ‘Smart City’, it is essential we solve these problems by infusing modern science and technology. Some such programmes are proposed as follows:
a) Garbage from residential and commercial areas should be collected systematically and processed at a couple of places away from the city, first to recover the broken glasses, plastics and metal scraps, and then to sell them for recycling in their respective industries. The remaining solid organic wastes should be used for producing compost and biogas. However, the idea of burning these organic wastes for producing electricity is not likely to be economical and environment-friendly.
b) The sewage water including human excreta should similarly be processed at suitable sites away from the city. From this can be produced organic manures and biogas. The treated clean water from the sewage can be utilised for watering trees in the public parks and de-dusting the road.
c) Efforts should be made to ensure cleanliness of rivers Daya and Kuakhai as also Ganguanala. Solid wastes and the sewage water should not be drawn into these water systems. Their treated water may be supplied for drinking and other domestic purposes. More number of wetlands should be developed in the city as also on its outskirts for rainwater harvesting to further increase the freshwater resources both on the surface and in the ground.
d) Large numbers of trees may be planted on both sides of the roads instead of cementing the pavements all over as has been the case. Barren and open areas belonging to the government should be converted into parks with massive plantation of trees. The National Laboratory, RRL, Bhubaneswar (presently known as IMMT) which I built as its director — practically starting from a barren area — is today filled with dense green trees all over the campus, providing a very soothing atmosphere. This should be practised in other such public and private organisations to help make Bhubaneswar green and cool.
e) The slum dwellers in different parts of the city may be rehabilitated at suitable sites and they be encouraged to have a clean living.
f) As OMFED has the capacity to supply the required milk for almost all in Bhubaneswar, cows and cowsheds all over the city creating nuisance may be shifted and allowed to settle at a suitable place away from the city. They can supply raw milk to OMFED or similar units for pasteurization, so that the people of Bhubaneswar will be privileged to have pasteurized milk and milk products.
It will be possible to make Bhubaneswar a clean city, fit as the capital of Orissa, and also a Smart city. Thereby, the people in the city can lead an environment friendly, pleasant and healthy life and more tourists can be attracted to visit this temple city.
The writer is a former Director General of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research; chairman of the
Institute of Advanced Technology & Environmental Studies (IATES); and President, Natural Resources & Development Foundation (NRDF). prof.pkjena_iates@yahoo.com
