The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) has engaged the Sulabh International to ensure cleanliness and keep toilets user-friendly at five major parks in the city.
The parks are Biju Patnaik Park (Forest Park), Indira Gandhi Park, Madhusudan Das Park, Mahatma Gandhi Park and Buddha Jayanati Park.
Plant litters like dry leaves and branches would be used as a composting matter to generate organic manure in near future. The BDA is investing Rs 4 lakh per month for this cleanliness drive at five parks.
BDA chief horticulturist (in-charge) Ashokananda Dhar said the parks’ entry points, lawns, pathways and jogging spaces are now sporting a cleaner look after the drivel.
He said park goers, mostly during morning and evening hours, are getting to use cleaned toilets after the Sulabh was engaged.
The BDA is currently managing over 50 parks across the city of which the five are the biggest ones in size. While the Biju Patnaik Park is of 22 acres, Indira Gandhi Park is of 11 acres, Madhusudan Das Park 30 cres, Mahatma Gandhi Park 5 acres and Buddha Jayanti Park 23 acres of area. The programme has begun as the BDA is planning to start a bio-composting work at major park sites with scientific know-how in near future.
The Chief Horticulturist has urged the park goers to stop taking non-biodegradable things to the parks as it would add to the problems of the agency to keep the environment in order. “Responsible people and Smart Citizens should contribute keep the green patches free from non-biodegradable things,’’ he added.