Bhubaneswar: In a significant concern, open dumping remains rampant alongside the 11 natural drainage channels of the city, posing a threat of drain clogging and artificial flooding in the city. Insufficient enforcement has resulted in people brazenly dumping various waste materials, from construction debris to plastic and miscellaneous waste, along the embankment of the drainage channels.
In the current practice, the drainage channels, which serve as primary carriers of the city’s stormwater, have gradually transformed into sewerage disposal channels, transporting wastewater to the Daya river via Gangua Nullah.
“Those residing near the drainage channels persistently dispose of waste materials in the drains and its embankment, resulting in the obstruction of the drainage channel,” Bomikhal resident Dipankar Jena said.
Jena further alleged that individuals from remote parts of the city now utilise the drain peripheries as their preferred disposal site. “Tractors transporting construction and demolition waste particularly use the drainage channels as their dumping grounds,” he added.
The city encompasses 11 natural drainage channels of varying lengths. The drainage channel number 11 extends the furthest at 21km, while drainage numbers 5 and 6 are the shortest with a length of 3km each.
Virtually all natural drainage channels now succumb to open dumping, with drainage channel number 10 in the Nayapally area, number 2 near Sainik School and number 11 near the Shampur area experiencing the most substantial dumping practices.
Residents complained that the civic body’s inadequate monitoring of dumping activities has led to the present circumstance. They said that the civic body ought to be vigilant regarding such matters.
“The civic body should strengthen enforcement and impose penalties on such offenders. Only then, such blatant practice could be checked. A prompt action is needed now,” Gajapati Nagar resident Nitesh Mahapatra said.
City mayor Sulochana Das, however, maintained that dedicated squads regularly conduct enforcement drives and penalise individuals engaged in open dumping activities. “We are raising awareness about the detrimental effects of open dumping while penalising on the violations. We encourage people to report such incidents when encountered. We will take action,” Das added.