Corruption Scandal Rocks Jeypore Municipal Cleaning Contract
By C.B.Singh, February 25, 2024
Jeypore, Odisha — A deepening corruption scandal has engulfed Jaypur’s municipal sanitation operations, with allegations of embezzlement, worker exploitation, and deliberate neglect of critical cleaning infrastructure. Investigations reveal that contractor L and K Security Service, tasked with managing cleanliness across 28 municipal wards, has siphoned crores of rupees through fraudulent billing practices over several years.
Fraudulent Billing and Worker Exploitation
Documents indicate the contractor bills the Jeypore Municipal Council for 365 employees monthly, claiming over ₹7 lakh in wages. However, only 260–270 workers, including drivers, are reportedly employed. Skilled labor positions remain unfilled, with unskilled workers substituted to cut costs. Shockingly, no Employee Provident Fund (EPF) deposits or safety gear—gloves, masks, footwear—have been provided, leaving workers vulnerable. Municipal sources allege ₹12–15 lakh is embezzled monthly through fabricated documents, aided by collusion between the contractor, former councilors, and municipal staff. A 2017-appointed Jamadar now oversees operations, further entrenching irregularities.
Idle Machinery Raises Questions
Compounding the crisis, a ₹29 lakh vacuum cleaner procured in 2021 under the District Mineral Fund Grant lies defunct at the municipal office. Operational for merely a week, mechanical failures and alleged disinterest in repairs have stalled its use. A Gridco-donated cleaning machine also remains unused, with officials citing high fuel costs. Critics accuse the municipality of deliberately sidelining equipment to benefit contractors reliant on manual labor.
Tender Renewal Amid Public Outcry
Despite mounting complaints over mismanaged waste and polluted streets, the municipality plans to renew L and K’s contract this month without convening a council meeting. Ward representatives warn of potential upheaval if the issue is tabled, fearing exposure of systemic corruption. Currently, L and K receives ₹76 lakh monthly to manage 40 metric tons of daily waste, employing 365 workers, 28 supervisors, and 28 assistants—a figure now under scrutiny.
Broader Implications and Calls for Reform
The scandal underscores failures in Jeypore adherence to state-led solid waste initiatives, including plastic recycling into bricks—a project championed by the current Chief Minister during his tenure as Urban Development Minister. Experts urge adoption of advanced waste strategies, relocation of polluting vendors, and machinery repairs to curb environmental damage.
With urban expansion exacerbating waste challenges, transparency in municipal contracts and accountability for neglected infrastructure remain critical to restoring public trust and ensuring a cleaner, healthier Jeypore
