BHUBANESWAR: Even though the agitators at the road connecting PMG Square to Station Square were up in arms against the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation’s new rule that compels them to obtain an NOC from BMC, the civic body has assured the agitators that facilities like mobile toilet would be provided. The licensing inspector of BMC, Santosh Praharaj on Tuesday reached the ‘Dharna Venue’ to inform the agitators that they have to pay fee for staging a dharna. On coming to know about the fees, the agitators reportedly argued as to why the BMC was charging them for staging a dharna while it was not providing them any facilities. Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena said, “We are not trying to discourage anyone, all we want to do is reinforce cleanliness at the road. It is difficult for the civic body to maintain road during the agitation with protestors dirtying the place by throwing food and polythene packets. The main focus will be to keep the place clean and hygienic and extra staff will be allotted by the BMC if the need arises. “We have received numerous complaints from distressed residents in the vicinity of the road,” said Jena. The BMC will also be providing the agitators with mobile toilet,’ he said. Prior to this, the protestors had to just get a no objection certificate (NOC) from the Commissionerate of Police. The BMC officials have urged the police to inform the agitators when they come to seek NOC that they have to obtain NOC from BMC. Praharaj asked the two agitating groups’ presidents and secretaries to visit the BMC office and obtain the NOC certificate from there. To get NOC, the agitators have to pay ` 1,000. The BMC does not intend to take action against the defaulters initially and will mostly try to create an awareness about the rule. Sources said a few Left parties have planned to storm the BMC office on Wednesday, protesting the new rule.
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