Paradip: Municipality EO’s selective advertisement release approach creates discontentment

By Pravakara Sahoo

Paradeep: The Paradeep Municipality, known as one of the most prosperous in the state, has been embroiled in controversy due to the alleged arbitrary actions of some officials. The Municipality which celebrated Local-Self-Government Day on August 31 with an estimated expenditure of lakhs of rupees, had made elaborate arrangements to mark the occasion with grandeur.

Every year, the municipality distributes advertisements to media houses operating in Paradeep. However, this year, only a select few media outlets have received advertisements, while the majority, including several state-government-recognised newspapers, have been excluded from the list. The reasons behind this decision remain unclear, sparking widespread speculation.

Discussions in the town suggest that Municipal Chairperson Basant Biswal and Executive Officer Abhishek Panda are responsible for this selective distribution. The move has raised questions about the transparency of the municipality’s operations.

Adding to the discontent, residents have pointed out ongoing issues such as poor sanitation, non-functional streetlights, open drains, and the lack of mosquito control measures like spraying or fogging. Allegations of mismanagement and exploitation by elected representatives and the executive officer have surfaced repeatedly.

The exclusion of recognised media houses, including Odisha’s own English newspapers, from advertisement allocations has drawn particular criticism, with many questioning why the media is being sidelined. Locals are now urging the district administration to intervene and address these concerns to ensure accountability and fairness.