Bhubaneswar’s Conservancy Lanes Under Threat from Encroachment and Littering | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Conservancy lanes across the city are once again facing encroachment and littering, despite the recent efforts by Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to restore them.
The civic body, under Mukhya Mantri Karma Tatpara Abhiyan (MUKTA), had undertaken the restoration of the conservancy lanes using paver blocks during the 2023-24 fiscal year.Out of the 444 conservancy lanes identified, around 276 have been restored so far.
However, the absence of stringent enforcement measures has led to the newly restored lanes fall into misuse again in several areas, with vehicles being parked and waste being dumped in these spaces.
The conservancy lanes were meant to provide easy access to emergency and utility vehicles such as ambulances, fire tenders and cesspool vehicles. As these lanes faced neglect for a long time, the civic body decided to restore them last year.
City mayor Sulochana Das said the restored lanes have been handed over to the respective zones and agencies have been engaged to maintain them. “Private agencies have been instructed to clean the restored lanes once every two days and the others once every 15 days,” she said.
Das further said an order has been issued recently, stipulating that agencies failing to fulfil their duties will face penalties in the form of deductions from their monthly bills.
“Respective zone commissioners have been asked to submit the performance reports of agencies,” she said.
Conservancy lanes are a common feature in most planned localities, including Saheed Nagar, Nayapalli, Unit I, Unit II, Unit III, Unit VIII and Unit IX. While the lanes in Saheed Nagar and Nayapalli are prone to encroachment by vehicles and vendors, those in other localities primarily face littering.
Sitakanta Patra, a resident of Saheed Nagar, had been taken aback after witnessing the restoration work as he had earlier never realised the existence of such lanes between the buildings.
However, he was disappointed the lanes are being blocked once again by parked vehicles. “These lanes seem very useful. The free lanes could also have been utilised to reduce traffic congestion in the area,” said Patra, who runs a grocery shop.
The civic body, under Mukhya Mantri Karma Tatpara Abhiyan (MUKTA), had undertaken the restoration of the conservancy lanes using paver blocks during the 2023-24 fiscal year.Out of the 444 conservancy lanes identified, around 276 have been restored so far.
However, the absence of stringent enforcement measures has led to the newly restored lanes fall into misuse again in several areas, with vehicles being parked and waste being dumped in these spaces.
The conservancy lanes were meant to provide easy access to emergency and utility vehicles such as ambulances, fire tenders and cesspool vehicles. As these lanes faced neglect for a long time, the civic body decided to restore them last year.
City mayor Sulochana Das said the restored lanes have been handed over to the respective zones and agencies have been engaged to maintain them. “Private agencies have been instructed to clean the restored lanes once every two days and the others once every 15 days,” she said.
Das further said an order has been issued recently, stipulating that agencies failing to fulfil their duties will face penalties in the form of deductions from their monthly bills.
“Respective zone commissioners have been asked to submit the performance reports of agencies,” she said.
Conservancy lanes are a common feature in most planned localities, including Saheed Nagar, Nayapalli, Unit I, Unit II, Unit III, Unit VIII and Unit IX. While the lanes in Saheed Nagar and Nayapalli are prone to encroachment by vehicles and vendors, those in other localities primarily face littering.
Sitakanta Patra, a resident of Saheed Nagar, had been taken aback after witnessing the restoration work as he had earlier never realised the existence of such lanes between the buildings.
However, he was disappointed the lanes are being blocked once again by parked vehicles. “These lanes seem very useful. The free lanes could also have been utilised to reduce traffic congestion in the area,” said Patra, who runs a grocery shop.
We also published the following articles recently
PM to lay foundation stone for 4 six-lane flyovers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to lay the foundation stone for six-lane flyovers at four junctions on SP Ring Road in Ahmedabad. The project is part of AUDA’s plan to build ten more bridges and costs Rs 391.16 crore. Additionally, Modi will inaugurate the Zundal urban poor housing scheme with 1,120 units built for Rs 128 crore.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to lay the foundation stone for six-lane flyovers at four junctions on SP Ring Road in Ahmedabad. The project is part of AUDA’s plan to build ten more bridges and costs Rs 391.16 crore. Additionally, Modi will inaugurate the Zundal urban poor housing scheme with 1,120 units built for Rs 128 crore.
SH dept plans 4-lane realignment of Viraganoor-Sakkudi road
The state highways department has revised the alignment of the Viraganoor-Sakkudi road project after farmers raised concerns about land acquisition. The new route moves closer to the Vaigai riverbank, reducing its impact on agricultural land. This adjustment aims to ease congestion between Karuppayurani and Madurai city while addressing local farmers’ concerns.
The state highways department has revised the alignment of the Viraganoor-Sakkudi road project after farmers raised concerns about land acquisition. The new route moves closer to the Vaigai riverbank, reducing its impact on agricultural land. This adjustment aims to ease congestion between Karuppayurani and Madurai city while addressing local farmers’ concerns.
