Daruthenga dump yard to be relocated, but no shifting of treatment plant

Bhubaneswar: After stiff resistance from the locals, the State government has decided to relocate the dumping yard at Daruthenga village on the outskirts of the capital city to Tulsadeipur. However, it has made clear that the Waste to Energy Treatment Plant will be set up at Bhuasuni under Daruthenga panchayat as per the original decision.

As per the high court order, the proposed waste treatment plant will be set up at Bhuasuni, Urban development minister Puspendra Singhdeo said after a meeting chaired by chief secretary and attended by three MLAs of Bhubaneswar, Home secretary and others today.

"It was decided that the dumping yard would be relocated to Tulsadeipur, but the waste treatment plant would be set up there. We request the locals to cooperate with the government in this regard. The move to set up the plant there has the sanction of the high court order and environmental clearance," Singhdeo said.

Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) mayor Anant Narayan Jena said the government will comply with any other order that the High Court may issue in the matter. “They (locals) have moved the High Court. If further direction comes, we will do accordingly. The dumping yard will be shifted within a month,”Jena said.

On the other hand, locals have stuck to their demand for shifting of both the dumping yard and the waste treatment plant. "Under no circumstances will the construction of the treatment plant be allowed. No waste materials will be allowed to be dumped there during the one month that the government will take to shift the dump yard," Daruthenga sarpanch Suresh Routray said.

Local residents have been protesting against the dumping yard at Bhuasuni and have resorted to agitation on several occasions demanding relocation of the dump yard from their area.

They have been opposing the dumping of garbage there as it is polluting the air and the underground water sources.The villagers have alleged that the foul smell emanating from the garbage has made their lives miserable.

In June, the locals had a clash with police while marching in a rally to the site where the waste treatment plant has been planned.