Home / Environment / Cuttack's Gadagadi Ghat Transformed into Garbage Dump, Sparking Outrage
Cuttack's Gadagadi Ghat Transformed into Garbage Dump, Sparking Outrage
7 Aug
Summary
- Gadagadi Ghat on Mahanadi River turned into dumping ground
- Violates NGT guidelines, poses threat to environment and health
- Thousands of devotees visited ghat during Shravan, faced filthy conditions
- Authorities promise cleanup within 48 hours, action against illegal dumping
As of 2025-08-07T22:53:23+00:00, Gadagadi Ghat, a popular riverside spot on the banks of the Mahanadi river in Cuttack, has turned into a dumping ground for solid waste, including plastic bottles, food leftovers, and ritual waste. This is in direct violation of the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) guidelines, which mandate strict norms to protect riverbanks and water bodies from pollution and encroachment.
The NGT prohibits the dumping of solid, liquid, or hazardous waste within 500 metres of a riverbank and requires proper waste management systems, especially near religious and public bathing ghats. However, the Gadagadi Ghat has become a haven for illegal dumping, posing a significant threat to the environment and public health.
Just last month, during the holy month of Shravan, thousands of Kawariyas visited the ghat to collect sacred water from the Mahanadi. Instead of a serene and sacred experience, they were greeted by filthy surroundings and a foul stench emanating from the accumulated waste. Locals and environmental activists have expressed outrage over the poor sanitation, calling it "an insult to the sanctity of the river and the devotees."
In response, the Cuttack Mayor, Subhash Singh, has instructed a sanitation team to clean the area immediately. He has assured that the cleaning operations at Gadagadi Ghat will be completed within 48 hours and that action will be taken against those responsible for the illegal dumping. However, this is not the first time the ghat has been left in shambles after major religious events, and environmental activists have criticized the lack of a long-term waste disposal strategy for such religious hotspots.
