Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation expands waste management to 31 Gram Panchayats

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has expanded its waste management operations to include 31 Gram Panchayats across the Bhubaneswar, Jatani, Balipatna, and Balianta blocks. Under the Odisha government’s Rural-Urban Convergence initiative, the BMC will now transport dry waste from these rural areas to its existing Material Recovery Facilities for segregation and recycling.

To support these efforts, the BMC has awarded a three-year contract for mechanized sweeping and cleaning of major roads at an annual cost of approximately Rs 9.47 crore. Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra flagged off the new dry waste collection initiative.

However, challenges persist regarding urban sanitation. Despite various schemes and funding, parts of the city continue to struggle with open garbage dumps and roadside waste heaps. The Daya West Canal has been identified as a significant area of concern, where residents frequently dump and burn waste along its banks, leading to pollution in the major irrigation and drainage channel.