Bhubaneswar: The Swachh Market Swachh Road campaign in three zones of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has created massive awareness among shopkeepers as around 80 per cent of them have started using dustbins.
Many stakeholders have volunteered to take up the initiative to make the city cleaner. Administrative charges of Rs 5.70 lakh was also collected by the BMC under the Swachh Market Swachh Road initiative since October 15, 2018 to ensure a cleaner environment and litter-free roads and markets across the city.
Ramesh Kumar Sahoo, the owner of Tarini Hotel at Patia Square, is a changed man now.
“I was always using a broken plastic box or a discarded bucket as dustbin, but now I have a new dustbin after the enforcement and awareness drives by the BMC through the North Zone Deputy Commissioner. We are happy that now we are contributing to make the city clean,’’ he added.
Laxmidhar Das, the owner of Modern Art, a printing facility near Damana Square, has also contributed to the campaign. “The shopkeepers here are now using dustbins, and the surroundings here have changed a lot, thanks to this campaign. The BMC’s enforcement teams have made it a point to conduct raids. They have also cleared encroachments from roads and footpaths,” Das said.
North Zone Deputy Commissioner Pramod Kumar Prusty said, “The BMC squads have collected administrative charges of Rs 2.65 lakh from litterbugs. Shopkeepers on major roads like Acharya Vihar-Kalinga Hospital Square, Jaydev Vihar-Kalinga Hospital Square, Kalinga Hospital Square-KIIT University, KIIT University-Sikharchandi, Patia Square to Infocity and Damana Square to Sailashree Vihar have been sensitised, and now around 80 per cent of them have started using dustbins.”
“The use of dustbins by traders and roadside vendors has increased substantially after the Swachh Market Swachh Road campaign. They are also aware about roadside evacuation and the imposition of administrative charges on violators. Areas like Vani Vihar to Sishu Bhawan Square, Kalpana to AG Square, AG to Acharya Vihar Square and Governor House Square to Jaydev Vihar have seen a remarkable change. The zone has collected administrative charges of Rs 1.40 lakh so far,’’ Bimalendu Ray, the Joint-Commissioner of BMC’s South East Zone said.
The South East Zone conducted a heritage area school awareness programme also under the campaign. The Deputy Commissioner has set up squads comprising ward officer and community organisers for effectively enforcing the clean-up drive. There are female squads too to deal with women vendors in vending zones.
The Joint Commissioner said that there was “a significant behavioural change” among shopkeepers as they are no more dumping garbage on the roads.
Those found littering near their establishments are slapped with penalties, ushering in responsible behaviour among all the stakeholders, he said.
“The enforcement in my zone has resulted in around 80 per cent of traders and shopkeepers using dustbins. Areas like the CRP Square to Jaydev Vihar Square via Ekamrakanan, Maila Tank Square to Iskcon Temple via IRC Village, Fire Station Square to Governor’s House Square, City Women’s College to Jagamara, Khandagiri to Pokhariput, Kalinga Studio Square to Khandagiri, Khandagiri to Dumduma and CRP Square to Power House Square have witnessed a major change in the use of dustbins by traders. The zone has collected a penalty of Rs 1.65 lakh,’’ South West Zone Deputy Commissioner Lalatendu Sahu said.
