Sanitation Goes for a Toss in Sambalpur
With the model code of conduct coming into force in the State, the Municipality finds itself in a tight spot to resolve the sanitation woes faced by the denizens.
With the recent development in election front, the Municipality cannot finalise the tenders which it had floated for outsourcing of cleaning work. The civic body had outsourced cleaning work in 15 of total Wards under its jurisdiction.
However, the agency, which bagged the tender, walked out of the job on February 15 with prior intimation following which the sanitation in the town went for a toss.
Though the Municipality claims to have engaged an agency temporarily for cleaning work, there has been no visible improvement in sanitation and the town is sinking under heaps of garbage littered in various places across 15 Wards. The drains are overflowing and filthy water is spilling on to the roads while the garbage is emitting foul smell.
Sources said the delay in payment of bills forced the private agency to withdraw from the work. Following the withdrawal, the Municipality subsequently floated fresh tender seeking expression of interest from NGOs and other enterprises having experience in cleaning work with the last date of receipt being February 25.
However, with the announcement of the general election, the finalisation of tenders has met a dead end. Besides, the crisis has exposed lack of sincerity on part of the Municipality to tackle the sanitation woes.
As the outgoing agency gave prior intimation much before its withdrawal, the Municipality could have hired a new agency. Instead of acting on the issue, it sat over it till the situation worsened.
It is alleged that the entire issue was allowed to slip out of hand to help certain vested applicants who had evinced interest in taking up the cleaning job.
When contacted, Executive Officer of the Municipality Aniruddha Padhan admitted that the tender is yet to be finalised due to enforcement of the model code of conduct. However, things would be set right with the help of a temporary agency which has been hired for the cleaning job, he claimed.
IIM Sambalpur
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