Bhubaneswar: In a move to curb the use of environmentally hazardous materials, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has urged people to avoid carrying bhog in polythene bags during the upcoming Durga Puja.
While aiming to curb the use of single-use plastics during the festive season, the move also seeks to reduce the surge in garbage generated during Durga Puja and Dusshera in the capital city.
As per the BMC, the capital city usually generates around 800 metric tonnes of waste daily, of which nearly 200 tonnes comprise plastic. During Durga Puja, the volume of solid waste rises by an additional 200 metric tonnes every day, putting enormous pressure on sanitation workers and waste management systems.
Keeping this in mind, BMC has decided to set up kiosks at major Puja pandals located in places such as Baramunda, Nayapalli, Sahid Nagar, Rasulgarh, and Damana. These kiosks will display awareness messages through boards and distribute leaflets to discourage the use of polythene bags.
Officials said volunteers will also be deployed at the kiosks to interact with citizens and spread awareness on proper waste disposal. They will also urge people not to dump puja waste on roads or near pandals, but to use designated dustbins.
The BMC has assigned three zonal deputy commissioners along with other officials, while senior officers will personally visit the kiosks in rotation to monitor the drive.