Berhampur Municical Corporation to clean up Ramlingam Tank

BERHAMPUR: At last Berhampur Municical Corporation (BMC) started cleaning up the large Ramlingam Tank in the heart of the city, which has become a large garbage dump. The BMC authorities have also announced strong action against the persons who would pollute this large water body in future. Tussle between the BMC and a private trust in relation to ownership of the tank had led to deterioration of this large water body called ‘breathing space' of this cramped city. Last year Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had also expressed strong concern over the State of this water body at a high-level meeting following a series of stories related to its state published in The Hindu. He had directed the administration to initiate measures to renovate the water body. In June last year former secretary of Ganjam Bar Association, Manoj Patnaik had moved a petition in the court of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate cum sub-collector of Berhampur under Section 133 of CrPC to direct the concerned agencies to renovate the tank and save it from future pollution as it had started to become a public hazard. The BMC authorities initiated cleaning of the tank following discussions with the trust members. Mayor of BMC Siba Shankar Dash said he was able to convince the trustees that this large tank could not be let to die out due to pollution and it was an extreme need to renovate the tank as the trust was not taking any steps to clean it. Mr. Dash said the trust members agreed to let BMC clean up the tank as they were not in a position to do the same.

Source: The Hindu