Odisha Govt plans integrated waste complexes to strengthen urban sanitation efforts

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has announced plans to establish integrated waste processing complexes in key urban areas.
This decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Minister of Housing & Urban Development, Krushna Chandra Mahapatra.
The meeting was convened to address the persistent challenges of waste management and cleanliness in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
The meeting underscored the urgency of tackling urban sanitation issues and proposed several innovative solutions. According to an official press release, the status of the ongoing Compressed Biogas (CBG) plant projects was reviewed, with the focus on five Municipal Corporations, the Puri-Konark Cluster, and the Boudhgarh-Sonepur Cluster.
Minister Mahapatra emphasized the importance of expediting the establishment of these plants to ensure they are operational on schedule.
One of the key highlights of the meeting was the proposal to set up integrated waste processing complexes in Municipal Corporations and select Municipalities across Odisha. These complexes will house a variety of waste processing plants, including CBG units, to optimize waste management, reduce transportation costs, and improve overall infrastructure efficiency.
Additionally, the Minister directed officials to prioritize the renovation and refurbishment of outdated toilets, including e-toilets, under the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC). The meeting also called for the swift processing of accumulated waste at the Temporary Transfer Station (TTS) near Sainik School, Bhubaneswar, and the urgent operationalization of the mega waste processing center at Palasuni, which is expected to further enhance waste management capacity.
In line with technological advancements, Mahapatra proposed the development of a digital application to improve sanitation monitoring across all Municipal Corporations and selected Municipalities. The new app, modeled after the successful BMC App, will be integrated into the Housing & Urban Development Department’s SUJOG portal to facilitate streamlined oversight and real-time reporting.
In a bid to encourage community engagement, Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary of Housing & Urban Development, suggested sharing a model agreement with ULBs to foster partnerships with Self-Help Groups (SHGs). These partnerships would focus on the operation and maintenance of public toilets and urban sanitation services, ensuring better community participation in the maintenance of public health facilities.