BMC removes underground waste bins in big markets
'Areas Turning into Giant Dump yards'
- Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started removing the huge underground dustbins installed at big markets as they turned out to be mini wasteyards with garbage littered all around them.
- Because of the underground dustbins, the vendors, shopkeepers and residents of nearby localities became complacent and dumped mixed waste (unsegregated) as a result of which the civic body had to separate the wet and dry waste.
- This was an extra load on it. In fact, according to new norms, the segregated wet and dry waste is taken to the micro composting center's (MCC) and material recovery facility (MRF) respectively for processing.
- BMC additional commissioner (sanitation) Suvendu Sahu said the dustbins will help promote waste segregation at source. People are being encouraged to segregate wet and dry waste at their end.
- "We have hundreds of dedicated waste-carrying vehicles (that carry the segregated lot from doorsteps) that can bring the waste for markets and households to MCC Earlier, the Bhubanes- and MRF If we have bulk of waste in unsegregated shape, it is extra work for us. So, we decided to remove the dustbins," Sahu said.
- Among others, the huge Idustbins are installed at Unit-1 and Unit-II markets, Unit-IV and Indradhanu markets. There are also dust- bins near Kalpan Square.
- In November 2022, the BMC declared Bapuji Nagar as a garbage-free market of the capital. The BMC accor ded the tag to the market as it became garbage-free, which means there is no litter of garbage anymore. The Ba- puji Nagar market, the most sought-after one when it co- mes to home appliances and electronic gadgets, has 2,000- plus shops in 14 lanes and three parallel rows.
- The dustbins, BMC offici- als said, were also occupying huge space and were lending an ugly look to the area. After removal of the dustbins, the vacant space will be develo- ped under the ongoing place- specific beautification plan to increase visual appeal.
- Earlier, the Bhubanes- war Development Authority (BDA) had identified the grey areas, where an aesthetic touch can be lent by bringing modifications in terms of landscape design and wall paintings.
- Some vacant spaces will just have lawn and shrub plantation so that ambient air is not polluted.