Cuttack: The grandeur of the historic Bali Yatra, Asia’s largest open-air trade fair, is being dampened by mounting piles of garbage and an unbearable stench across the fairgrounds. The unsanitary conditions have drawn sharp criticism from both visitors and traders.
From food stalls to walkways, trash — including plastic bags, leftover food, and disposable cups — has accumulated in several areas, creating an unpleasant atmosphere for thousands of visitors. Despite the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) contracting a private agency for sanitation work at a cost of ₹40 lakh for five days, waste collection appears inadequate.
Visitors allege that sanitation workers are sweeping waste into heaps without properly lifting it, leading to foul odours and swarms of flies in several zones.
“The piled garbage here creates such a foul smell that it becomes unbearable to pass through this stretch. CMC officials are not lifting garbage. People from outside the city get a bad impression,” said Pramila Behera, a visitor.
The situation has sparked calls for immediate action and stricter monitoring of waste disposal, as the civic neglect threatens to overshadow one of Odisha’s most celebrated cultural events.
-OdishaAge
