BMC lodges complaint after locals ‘inaugurate’ crores-worth garbage processing plant in Bhubaneswar

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), on Monday, lodged a formal police complaint after a group of residents and activists ‘forcefully’ entered a mega waste processing facility in Palasuni and conducted an unofficial inauguration ceremony.

The civic body, in its letter to Mancheswar Police, termed the act unlawful and demanded appropriate legal action for disrupting pre-commissioning work at the high-value public infrastructure.

According to the complaint, the plant includes a 150-tonne-per-day material recovery facility along with green waste, low-grade plastic, and coconut waste units.

The BMC added that the structure is still under pre-launch preparations and was due to be inaugurated by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in June. It further alleged that the unannounced ceremony not only breached security protocols but also posed a threat to public safety and delayed critical final-stage operations.

Residents Defy Delay, Conduct Symbolic Inauguration

The complaint came a day after members of Bhubaneswar Unnayan Parishad and ‘Aliagada Hatao O Sainik School Banchao Abhiyan’ led a protest at the facility, breaking coconuts and cutting ribbons in a symbolic attempt to bring the long-stalled project into use.

In their stance, they accused BMC of ignoring months of appeals to operationalise the site, which they claim was physically completed nearly eight months ago.

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Stench from Gadakana Dumping Yard Fuels Outrage

Much of the residents' anger stems from the deteriorating conditions around the Gadakana temporary transit station (TTS), which serves as a current dumping site. Neighbourhoods including Patia, Sainik School, Damana village, and others have long complained of unbearable odours and public health hazards due to the site’s overuse.

In an interaction with the media, the activists had warned of intensified demonstrations starting today. As of now, BMC has not issued a public response to the residents' actions, nor has a large-scale protest been started yet.