Rs 50 fine for defecating in open

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Bhubaneswar: People defecating in the open will have to pay a fine of `50 each if they are caught by the local ward sanitation committee or the self-help groups under the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC).
The decision was taken at the Corporation meeting Friday, to give a boost to Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and make the Capital city open defecation free (ODF). The proposal was unanimously passed.
“To make people aware of the penalty, awareness camps will also be organised across the city,” said Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.
During the meeting, corporators expressed their concern over mushrooming growth of kalyan mandaps (community/marriage halls) across the city, which ultimately create traffic snarls and put additional burden on the civic body in lifting of solid waste. The BMC has decided to carry out a survey of all kalyan mandaps across the city through Planning Wing of BMC in association with all the Zonal Deputy Commissioners, corporators and officials. The nature of plan approval given to a kalyan mandap (whether residential or commercial) and the violations made through parking and encroachment irregularities would be taken into consideration.
Rs 20 cr for conservation of water bodies Seven prominent water bodies within BMC limits will be restored at a cost of `20 crore. While a detailed project report (DPR) has been prepared by an agency Multi Mantach, Odisha Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (OUIDF) will extend financial assistance. The project will be funded through grant, loan and share from BMC in the cost-sharing pattern of 45:45:10.
The water bodies to be covered under the restoration or conservation plan are: Ananta Vasudev Purohit Pond (Ward No. 19), Ghagudi Pond (Ward No. 23), Jagamara Barabari Pond (Ward No. 63), Jhara Pokhari (Ward No. 62), Namrakani Pond (Ward No. 65), Taria Pond (Ward No. 23) and Nayapalli Haja (Ward No. 37).
Drain de-silting and cleaning also featured in the discussion. “The rest of nearly 15 to 20 per cent will be finished very soon as we have asked our drainage team to work on war footing and make the drains and drainage channels free from any type of obstruction,” said the mayor.
Temple conservation
Culture and Tourism Minister Ashok Chandra Panda directed the corporators to furnish the list of temples in their locality so that `5 lakh per monument would be granted for their upkeep. He, however, clarified that the temples should be under public use and do not belong to private ownership.
Municipal Commissioner Krishan Kumar gave a rundown on the progress of various projects under the Smart City Proposal.
Before the meeting, BMC Standing Committee Chairman election was held. Following members were elected to head nine different standing committees.
Sheikh Nizamuddin: Taxation, Finance and Accounts; Biranchi Narayan Mohasupkar: Public Health, Electric Supply, Water Supply, Drainage and Environment; Amaresh Jena: Public Works; Naba Kishore Behera: Planning and Development; Pranab Kishore Swain: Education Recreation and Culture; Sanjaya Kumar Sethy: Licence and Appeals; Samir Pradhan: Corporation Establishment; Chhabi Dash: Social Justice and Kumarendra Mohapatra: Slum Resettlement.