Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation's Plogathon Continues In Swachhata Pakhawada

Bhubaneswar, Sep 25: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) shut down three shops today for improper waste disposal, including dumping garbage on roads and canals, officials said.

The affected shops — Sai Arogyam Plus Medicine Store and Path Lab, L Zone Salon, and Sangeeta Bakery at Bhagabata Sandhana Square — were located along the stretch from GGP Colony to Jharapada Canal Bridge. These establishments were shut downed after evidence of open burning and roadside littering was found. The action was taken by Team Shine under the orders of the Deputy Commissioner (Sanitation).

BMC's Plogathon continues across various locations in Bhubaneswar as part of “Swachhata Pakhwada”. In celebration of "Swachhta Hi Seva," a large-scale cleaning drive was organized at the historic tourist sites of Khandagiri and Udayagiri, as well as in Ward 18 (GGP Colony) and Ward 19, covering areas like Bhagwan Tower - Canal Road, Malaya Vihar, and parts of Jagannatha Nagar. These efforts are part of BMC’s ongoing mission to promote cleanliness throughout the city.

At Khandagiri and Udayagiri, the event saw the participation of Additional Commissioner Subhendu Kumar Sahu, South-West Zonal Commissioner Shri Roshan Satpathy, Assistant Commissioner N Ganesh Babu, and the South-West Deputy Commissioner, along with Scouts and Guides, senior citizens, NGOs, self-help groups, and the BMC team. A total of 320 people took part in the initiative, resulting in the collection of 2.5 metric tons of garbage.

In wards 18 and 19, a total of eight trips of garbage were collected along a 3 km stretch during a large-scale cleanliness drive. The event was graced by the presence of Deputy Commissioner of Sanitation Shri Manoranjan Sahu, North Zone Deputy Commissioner Priyadarshini Jena, and local corporator Biplab Behera.

The campaign witnessed active participation from Scouts and Guides, senior citizens, NGOs, self-help groups, Swachh Sathi, Swachh Supervisors, Swachh Karmi, and the Sanitary Inspector. Participants not only undertook mass cleaning efforts but also engaged the local community in promoting the importance of maintaining a clean, green, and beautiful Bhubaneswar. Vendors and citizens were educated on proper waste segregation and encouraged to responsibly hand over segregated waste to the Safa Gadi for collection.

Similarly, a mass cleaning drive was conducted by the BMC at various street food areas, including Shahid Nagar Khaogali, Satyanagar New Market front, and Khaogali No. 9, involving 110 vendors. In addition, 20 Swachh Karmis cleaned the Jagamara food court, while Janpath, Ram Mandir, and Mausi Maa Temple localities were also thoroughly cleaned, with active participation from local vendors.

To honor the efforts of the Swachh Karmis, an entertainment program was organized at TTS. This initiative will continue until October 2.