Even as there is interest among youths and professionals in city to ride bicycles, the government has drawn flak for not promoting the 'green' transport. Lack of adequate cycle tracks and encroachments on existing tracks have been a cause of concern, experts said.

"Government should spread awareness about cycle tracks and properly maintain existing ones. The cycle tracks should be made free from encroachment," said Bhrugu Mishra, co-founder of Bepara Foundation Trust (BFT), a voluntary organization, which promotes cycling.

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) will begin collection of plastic waste from four Wards on pilot basis.

Despite ‘World Toilet Day’ being observed on Tuesday across the world, open defecation continues in many parts of the State due to lack of access to toilets.

Once bitten twice shy.

BHUBANESWAR: The housing and urban development (H&UD) department has formed a task force to implement the use of plastic waste for road construction.

The task force comprises officials of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC), Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) and the works department.

As traders complain of a significant drop in the sale of firecrackers this year with people scaling down Diwali celebrations in the wake of cyclone and floods, environmentalists see a positive side to the trend.

Environmentalist said subdued Diwali is good news for the environment. "The reduced sale of crackers would mean less air pollution and less toxic left-overs for water," said environmentalist Biswajit Mahanty.

The long-pending regional municipal solid waste (MSW) management project under the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has progressed one step ahead with the opening of technical bid on Wednesd

Beware! Goddess durga is watching you cutting the trees and exploiting the women.