CUTTACK: The residents of several areas in Cuttack continued to grapple with problems of inundation in the absence of proper drainage system. Heavy rainfall for the last two days has left over 75 per cent areas of the city water-logged.Even as the authorities of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) made all efforts to drain out water through pump sets, the situation remained unchanged in most of the low-lying areas of the Millennium City.
Due to acute water logging, it was difficult to differentiate between drains and roads in most of the places. The worst affected areas are located in low-lying places where overflowing drain water has entered houses making life miserable for the residents. The residential office of the Collector too was inundated with two feet rain water.
Residents have blamed inefficiency of the authorities of JICA project in desilting and cleaning clogged drains for worsening the situation. It is alleged that due to ongoing concrete casting work, JICA authorities have closed the main drain at Professorpada, Bajrakabati and Gamhadia for which water is unable to get released.
However, CMC Commissioner Bikash Chandra Mahapatra said several low-lying localities remained waterlogged as the city received 241 mm rainfall on Monday. The city received highest 112 mm rainfall in one and a half hours (from 9 pm to 10.30 pm on Monday) which is responsible for the situation, he added.
The CMC has stationed more than 230 dewatering pump sets to drain out water but this too has failed to work out as majority of the motors are not functioning properly due lack of drainage facility, locals said.
The city drainage system, which has capacity to drain out water logging arising out of maximum 30 to 50 mm rainfall, remains flooded by excess rainfall in a short time, Mahapatra clarified.
Cooked food was distributed among more than 5,000 people in the worst affected localities of Patapola, Stewart Patna, Sutahat, Jobra Malla Sahi and Nuasahi areas. Besides, 13 special teams have been formed to tackle the situation, informed Mahapatra.