Ranpur: Despite the state and central governments spending a fortune on cleanliness and sanitation purposes, garbage has been piling up in roads, lanes and bylanes of Ranpur notified area council (NAC) in Nayagarh district, reports said.
Ranpur NAC comprises of 15 wards and has 42 sweepers to clean the roads and lanes in these wards.
The monthly expenses for scavenging rose to Rs 4 lakh from the previous amount of Rs 3 lakh, but the cleaning activities are still unimproved.
Some residents alleged that the money is being siphoned off by some NAC staff.
Corroborating the residents’ allegation, a Councillor, who did not want to be named, said, “The number of sweepers actually engaged in daily sweeping is far less than the number marked in the rooster. The money is being misappropriated by some unscrupulous NAC staff and political leaders.”
Panchu Dola festival was celebrated with a lot pomp and gaiety Tuesday but the sights of streets with garbage piles all around marred the festive mood.
“Panchu Dola festival is celebrated in a big way here. People from nearby areas and districts visit the festival here. Our relatives also come to enjoy the festival. But this year, the NAC authority seems not concerned as it used to be in the past,” a resident alleged.
Though there are dustbins at different nooks and corners of roads and wards, the NAC has left them unused. A specific garbage lifting vehicle has been parked in the locality for a few months.
The residents also complained that they are not getting their quota of drinking water.
NAC executive engineer Archana Nayak said, “42 sweepers have been engaged through contractors. But as we have only one tractor for the purpose of lifting the garbage, the work might not be up to the mark. The addition of another tractor can improve the situation.”
PNN