The Lakshmi Jore, a natural stream that flows through Balangir town, is getting choked by encroachment and dumping of garbage.
The stream, which divides the town into two parts, originates from Gandhrel hill and joins river Suktel flowing outside the town.
The stream has turned into an easy source for dumping garbage at many points through which it passes. At many places, it has changed its natural course due to encroachment. Those places are Balangir Women’s College hostel, Town police station, Thikadarpara, Bramhinpara, Ambapara, Gandhinagarpara and Satya Narayanpara.
Sources said at many places through which the stream flows, land has been encroached upon by land mafia and sold as residential plots. As far as the natural drainage of the town is concerned, Lakshmi Jore is the only outlet for draining out surface water. But, due to encroachment and dumping of garbage in it, the town faces problems of water-logging during monsoon.
Executive Officer of Balangir Municipality Santosh Kumar Behera said the civic body will send a proposal to Urban Development Department for renovation of Lakshmi Jore soon. “We have asked the Tehsildar to identify the encroached areas of the stream,” he added.