Latest news with #CuttackMunicipalCorporation
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Encroachment mars Cuttack's smart footpaths
1 2 Cuttack: Smart footpaths constructed in the city to ensure safe pedestrian movement have become prone to illegal encroachment. The 5.2-km stretch from Madhupatana Square to Badambadi Chowk, built around six months ago at a cost of Rs 4 crore, is now filled with makeshift stalls, illegally parked vehicles and roadside vendors. Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) had envisioned wide, modern walkways with designer paver blocks, 1.2 metres wide and raised by 6 inches from the road surface, for better visibility and pedestrian convenience. "It's unfortunate to see the footpaths becoming unusable for pedestrians. They were built with taxpayers' money, but now they are occupied by shopkeepers and vehicles," said Manoranjan Das, a commuter. "We now have to walk on the road alongside buses and autos. The whole point of building the footpaths is lost if the authorities allow the encroachment to continue," he added. Rayashree Satyaranjan Nayak, a resident of Mahanadi Vihar, said, "When the project was announced, it seemed like a major step towards smart urban mobility. But without consistent monitoring, it has failed its purpose. The smart footpaths have become a hub for illegal two-wheeler parking and makeshift shops. The authorities have turned a blind eye." Cuttack mayor Subhash Singh told TOI, "This is one of the most important pieces of urban infrastructure in the city. If the public acts so irresponsibly, we are helpless." He added, "Encroachments are unacceptable. Enforcement teams will start eviction drives and restore the walkways within a week." Shopkeepers along the stretch defended their actions. "We are forced to place items outside because our shops are too small. But we are ready to cooperate if given alternative options," said Lingaraj Rout, a vendor near Badambadi. Bikas Mohapatra, a road safety expert, said encroachments push pedestrians onto the main carriageway, increasing the risk of accidents. "Safe walking space is not a luxury; it is a necessity in urban road planning. Installation of bollards and surveillance cameras could deter illegal use and maintain walkability standards," said Mohapatra. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
07-08-2025
- General
- Time of India
Gadagadi Ghat turns dumping ground, violates NGT norms
1 2 Cuttack: Gadagadi Ghat, a prominent riverside spot on the banks of the Mahanadi river in Cuttack, has turned into a dumping ground for garbage, in direct violation of National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines. The riverbank is now strewn with heaps of solid waste, including plastic bottles, food leftovers, and ritual waste, posing a significant threat to both the environment and public health. The NGT mandates strict norms to protect riverbanks and water bodies from pollution and encroachment. These include a prohibition on dumping solid, liquid, or hazardous waste within 500 metres of a riverbank and require proper waste management systems, especially near religious and public bathing ghats. Municipal bodies are held accountable for enforcing these guidelines and maintaining cleanliness around water bodies. As the holy month of Shravan concluded on Monday, thousands of Kawariyas visited the ghat to collect sacred water from the Mahanadi. However, they were greeted by filthy surroundings and a foul stench emanating from the accumulated waste. Cuttack Mayor Subhash Singh said, "A sanitation team has been instructed to clean the area immediately." He assured that cleaning operations at Gadagadi Ghat would be completed within 48 hours, and action would be taken against those responsible for illegal dumping." Locals and environmental activists have expressed anger over the poor sanitation. "This is not just negligence. It is an insult to the sanctity of the river and the devotees," said Suresh Dash, a local priest. "Despite repeated complaints, the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) has failed to act." Asutosh Debata, an environmental activist, said, "Dumping garbage near water bodies is a clear violation of NGT norms. It pollutes the river and harms aquatic life. Authorities must act swiftly." He also criticised the poor coordination between civic authorities and event organisers during large religious gatherings. "Every year, after major rituals or festivals, the ghats are left in shambles. The city needs a long-term waste disposal strategy for religious hotspots," added Abhaya Patnaik, a social worker. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and s ilver prices in your area.
New Indian Express
29-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
CMC to plant 1.5 lakh saplings in July first week in Odisha
CUTTACK: In a bid to improve the ecological biodiversity of the city, the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) has decided to plant around 1.5 lakh saplings during observation of Van Mahotsav Week during July first week. As per the decision taken by the civic body in a meeting recently, it will procure around one lakh saplings from the Forest department and the remaining 50,000 comprising different varieties of fruit-bearing trees including mango, guava, banyan and amla, will be given by the Horticulture department. CMC mayor Subhas Singh said the corporation will also involve school and college students, puja committees and different non-government organisations (NGOs) in the plantation drive. 'Apart from parks, school and college premises, and open spaces in the city, the plantation drive will this year also be undertaken on three acre land at Mahanadi's Bhuasuni Patha. The saplings, after being planted will be taken care of by the Forest department for around three years. Tree guards will also be deployed to take care of the plants. We have also planned to conduct awareness programmes to sensitise residents on environmental pollution and global warming,' Singh added.
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Rain floods several areas in Cuttack's CDA for hours
1 2 3 4 Bhubaneswar: A spell of rain on Wednesday left several areas in Cuttack's CDA submerged, disrupting life. Areas starting from Rotary Eye Hospital to sectors 6, 7 and 9 remained under knee-deep water for hours. Sector 6 was among the worst affected, with water entering several houses and many vehicles getting stranded. Residents struggled to move out even hours after the rain had stopped. "People were wading through flooded lanes, with schoolchildren and office-goers facing major inconvenience," said Jyoti Mohanty, a resident of Sector 6. Krushna Prasad Jena, a septuagenarian navigating a flooded street, said, "We have lived here for decades but never seen such a precarious situation. The condition is only getting worse." Stagnant water not only flowed over roads but also entered residential areas, damaging property and raising concerns over vector-borne diseases. Residents blamed the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) for failure to maintain and upgrade the drainage network. "This has become a yearly nightmare. The drains are never cleaned on time, and we pay the price during monsoon. The entire area is submerged. Its unfortunate to witness such a situation," said Priyanka Das, a resident of Sector 7. Subrat Behera, a resident of Sector 9, said, "What sort of planned area is this if we can't even step out of our homes without fear of waterlogging?" Cuttack mayor Subhash Singh told TOI, "Unprecedented rainfall in a short time caused the waterlogging. Our teams have been on the ground since morning. We're working to identify and address key choke points in the drainage system." In another development, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi said on Wednesday said there will be no compromise on the 'zero casualty' approach during natural disasters After chairing the state-level Natural Disaster Committee meeting, Majhi highlighted the state's vulnerability to natural calamities, particularly during the southwest monsoon from June to Oct. "While we cannot prevent natural disasters, we can certainly minimise their impact through effective management," he said. State govt announced plans to irrigate 1.5 million hectares of farmland over the next five years to combat potential drought conditions. The CM also directed the water resources department to maintain vigilant monitoring of vulnerable river embankments and effective water flow management. Revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari announced the installation of three Doppler radars in Sambalpur, Balasore and Bhubaneswar to enhance weather monitoring capabilities. The state has also constructed 909 multipurpose cyclone/flood shelters across 25 disaster-prone districts. To address health concerns during the monsoon season, the CM stressed the importance of maintaining adequate medicine and antivenom stocks in health centres, along with ensuring clean drinking water through proper tube well maintenance.
New Indian Express
23-06-2025
- New Indian Express
Orissa HC expresses shock over manual drain cleaning, orders CMC to use machines
CUTTACK: Expressing alarm over the practice of manual cleaning of drains by engaging labourers, the Orissa High Court has directed the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) to take immediate steps to shift to mechanised process and submit a report by July 31. 'This court expects that the inhuman methodology resorted to would be stopped immediately and efforts shall be made to undertake the drain cleaning activities by deploying technologically advanced drain cleaning machines,' the bench of Justices SK Sahoo and V Narasingh, which is dealing with PILs on civic issues in Cuttack city, said. The court took note of media reports on how labourers, even minor boys, are engaged in the daunting task of clearance of wastes, deposits and sewage from the storm water channels and big drains in the city. While they enter the drains without proper safety gear or safety measures, no CMC staff is monitoring the operations, thereby endangering the lives of the workers. The bench observed, 'Needless to say, ensuring the health and safety of labourers is crucial for productive outcome. This involves implementing measures to prevent work-related injuries, diseases and hazards. When the labourers are used to clean the big drains manually, it very often leads to hazardous conditions and can lead to injuries or fatalities due to toxic fumes and coming in contact with sharp objects like broken glasses, metals and spikes besides poisonous snakes in the water bodies.' Accordingly, the bench ordered the CMC to finalise a plan of action to streamline the cleaning process of the drains by adopting suitable machines and training of manpower and place it in the court during on the next date on July 7. The bench also directed CMC to make sure there is no violation of the provisions of Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act in their operations.
