Cuttack admin takes measures for a pollution-free fair

CUTTACK: Abiding by the direction of National Green Tribunal (NGT), the district administration has chalked out measures to ensure that Bali Jatra is free from pollution. The district administration has directed the traders to set up their stalls at least 50 metres away from Mahanadi river stream. Construction of special bamboo-made barricade at the edge of the riverstream is on to prevent people from venturing near the river and disposing garbage in it.

Besides taking steps for sweeping the Bali Jatra fair ground twice a day, the administration has also instructed traders to keep dustbins near their stalls. The Cuttack Municipal Corporation(CMC) has also formed special teams of sweepers to shift and clean garbage and waste materials generated daily from the fair, said Collector Susant Mahapatra.

To check pollution arising out of open defection and urination, the CMC has also decided to set up two mobile toilets to facilitate revelers in easing themselves at the fairground. The district administration has also strictly banned use of polythene carry bags, plastic glass and cups for serving water and tea this year in the fair.“The traders have been instructed to use biodegradable carry bags, papermade glass and cups,” said CMC Commissioner Bikas Mahapatra.

To promote and popularise biodegradable carrybags, CMC has decided to showcase paper-made carry bags, cups, plate etc in about 10 stalls set up by the civic body and Odisha Rura Development and Marketing Society(ORMAS), Mahapatra said.