An alarming accumulation of garbage along the main roads of Bhima Tangi Housing Colony has raised serious concerns among residents, pointing to a glaring gap in the capital’s urban waste management system.
Despite the installation of multiple municipal dustbins along the thoroughfare, large heaps of plastic bags, food packaging, waste paper, and household refuse remain strewn across the roadside. The area surrounding the designated bins has effectively turned into an open dumping ground, creating a severe eyesore and an increasingly unsanitary environment.
Adding to the community’s anxiety is the constant presence of stray cattle feeding on the toxic waste heaps. Animals are frequently seen ingesting plastic and other non-biodegradable debris alongside discarded food scraps, posing life-threatening health risks to the urban livestock population.
Local residents warn that the uncleared waste threatens to trigger a public health crisis. The overflowing garbage has become a prime breeding ground for mosquitoes, flies, and other disease vectors, releasing a foul stench that makes commuting through the corridor unbearable. Community members fear the situation will deteriorate drastically during rains, as contaminated runoff spreads across the roadways, polluting the surrounding environment and spiking the risk of waterborne illnesses.
Civic activists and neighbourhood residents are urging the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to step in immediately. They demand routine waste collection, thorough cleaning around designated dustbin sites, and regular monitoring to prevent unlawful dumping. Alongside administrative action, community leaders are calling for sustained public awareness campaigns to encourage proper waste disposal practices among households and vendors.
