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Councillors protest against poor sanitation

Photo: Lingaraj Panda

Councillors arguing with municipal Chairperson Sulochana Swain and executive officer Bhimsen Mansingh at the meeting of Berhampur Municipal Council on Monday. —

BERHAMPUR: The Berhampur municipality had to take immediate steps to clean the city following stiff protest by councillors against the poor sanitary conditions in the city after the first few showers of the monsoon.

At the municipal council meeting held on Monday, almost all councillors shouted against the failure of the municipality to keep the city clean and its drains unclogged.

Some councillors even sat on a dharna in front of the meeting hall.

When the municipal chairperson and officials said shortage of sanitary workers was the reason, the councillors immediately demanded appointment of extra workers at least during monsoons.

The municipal authorities decided to appoint 10 extra sanitary workers for each ward of the city on daily payment.

A supervisor would be appointed for a set of two wards to supervise the maintenance of sanitation.

Most of the councillors were worried about the dismal sanitary condition of the city as the elections for the local body is to be held this year and sanitation would be a major issue in every ward of city.

The initial monsoon showers revealed how unprepared was the city sewerage system to face rainfall. Most of the drains of the city were clogged by silt and polythene waste as they were not cleaned properly before the monsoons.

The recent showers for a few hours during last few days had led to heavy water logging in some areas of the city. Badri Nayak, councillor, said the authorities should have taken the steps much before to clean up at least most major drains.

The city is yet to have a proper sewerage system and it has to depend on unplanned drainage system, which usually remains clogged.

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