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UD Secretary patronage to incompetent officials blamed
The various infrastructure projects implemented by the Urban Development Department in the capital city spending crores of rupees have been either delayed and are on the verge of failure.
This has led to apprehensions of Chief Minister Mo Sarkar 5T mission being achieved in developing world class infrastructure in the State, when an international event like the Men’s Hockey World Cup is around the corner.
The main reason blamed for this is the various departments like Urban Development, Works Department and WATCO turning into a rehabilitation home for former officials.
While the slogan ‘Keep the City Clean and Green’ is being parroted, the micro composting centres of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation in the Unit-1 High School, Pokhariput near the Biju Patnaik International Airport, Unit-8 Boys High School and Pokhariput DAV School in the capital city are the biggest cause of air pollution.
UD Secretary patronage to incompetent officials blamed
The local residents are having a miserable time due to the foul odour emitting out of the centres. The Bhimatangi BDA had brought this to the notice of the higher authorities but in vain. A PIL regarding the micro compost centres.
One such centre is located near NICCO Park close to the Kalinga Stadium which would be hosting the Men’s Hockey World Cup in which international hockey teams would be participating
Though the garbage and other waste materials being collected from the city are being dumped at far off places, the location of micro composting centres in populated residential areas has raised many questions.
The BMC which had called for a tender recruitment of sanitation workers surprisingly doesn’t have any provision for EPF and ESI. Besides, the threading machines used in the micro compost centres are not functioning properly. WATCO Chief Executive Officer PK Swain, who is a former employee, has been given drawing powers. According to the rules no former official can be vested with drawing power.
It is alleged that due to Swain’s closeness to the UD Secretary, he has been given an extension thrice.
Besides, Swain has gone on foreign tours, even though the State Government has put restrictions of foreign trips of officials.
The multiple failures and indifferent functioning of the Urban Development Department have raised many questions on the eight-year tenure of the Secretary in the same post.
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