Jeypore: A dust cleaning machine was purchased for cleaning across 28 wards of the municipality, costing 29 lakh rupees from the District Mineral Fund in 2021. However, despite the high cost, the machine has remained inoperative since the beginning. It was used for just one week before being left unused due to a lack of maintenance, now gathering dust at the municipal office. Dissatisfaction has been expressed as the concerned authorities have not taken any steps toward its repair.
The District Mineral Fund had allocated funds for purchasing seed-cleaning system machines for municipal areas, including Jeypore, Kotpad, Sunabeda, and Koraput. After being handed over to the respective municipal authorities, the machine in Jeypore was used for only a week before becoming non-functional due to mechanical issues. Moreover, the machine consumed excessive fuel, discouraging the municipality from repairing it. Due to a lack of maintenance, it now lies abandoned in the municipal office.
Similarly, another cleaning machine was provided to Jeypore Municipality by a company named Grico in 2021. That machine, too, remains unused. It has been kept aside with claims that it is unsuitable for cleaning roads. If repaired, both machines could be put to use again. However, the municipality appears to deliberately keep them idle, allegedly favoring private cleaning contractors.
Despite the presence of 13 sanitation workers, one supervisor, and one Swachh Sathis per ward in Jeypore’s 28 wards, sanitation services remain disrupted in many areas. Garbage collection is managed with 13 tractors, 10 handcarts, and 16 battery-operated vehicles.
Grico’s donated machine also lies unused, raising concerns over favoritism towards cleaning contractors. The contract for city sanitation has been given to L & K Security Services, which employs 365 sanitation workers. To oversee sanitation operations, 28 supervisors and 28 Swachh Sathis have been appointed. While the cleaning contractor is paid ₹76 lakh per month, municipal employees argue that attention is not given to utilizing dust-cleaning machines, further fueling allegations of negligence.
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