Bhubaneswar: Popular picnic spots around Bhubaneswar were littered with heaps of garbage, plastic waste, leftovers and liquor bottles after New Year celebrations, a sight that has drawn criticism from locals and environmentalists, especially as it came despite the state govt’s plastic-free picnic campaign.
With the beginning of the picnic season starting in December, it reached its peak during the New Year when hundreds thronged popular spots like the foothills of Dhauli, Khandagiri-Udaygiri and Sikharchandi and parks like the Botanical Garden and Jaydev Vatika, as well as places inside Chandaka sanctuary Derasa. The picturesque locations have now turned into dumping grounds.
“These spots are not just tourist attractions but also hold historical and spiritual significance. Action must be taken against those who are making these places dirty,” said local resident Sumitra Das, who sells coconuts at Dhauli.
According to environmentalists, the govt’s campaign failed to make an impact on the ground due to a lack of sensitisation among people and efforts by field staff to create awareness.
“We are deploying additional workers for garbage collection and issuing notices to picnic organisers to ensure proper disposal of waste,” a BMC official requesting anonymity said.