CUTTACK: As Cuttack braces for rain induced by severe cyclonic storm Hud Hud, the district administration and Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) have gone on an overdrive to prevent the most pressing problem of water-logging in the Millennium City.
With the picture on Hud Hud’s track becoming clearer, the administration and civic authorities have prioritised cleaning of drains and storm water channels to ensure quick and unhindered outflow of water from the city to the rivers. While the CMC has begun clearing the channels on a war-footing, steps have also been initiated to clear all the water exit and discharge points on the Mahanadi and Kathjodi rivers.
As many as 200 high-powered pump sets are being deployed at strategic location like Khan Nagar, Matrubhawan, Matgajpur, and Taladanda canal along with the vulnerable low-lying pockets. “The projected track of the cyclone shows it will move to Andhra Pradesh. But under its impact, there is likelihood of heavy rainfall in the city. Thus, the foremost duty before us is to prevent water-logging”, Collector Nirmal Chandra Mishra said.
A disaster preparedness meeting was held by Mishra to take stock of the situation where it was decided that if need arose, rain water will also be discharged into the Taladanda canal. The Executive Engineer of the canal has already been intimated to maintain water level so as to be able to absorb the rainwater discharge from the city, Mishra said.
Special teams have been formed under the CMC for monitoring and undertaking evacuation and relief operations in the low-lying areas. In case of prolonged heavy rainfall, people from the slums and vulnerable pockets will be shifted to shelters in schools, community centres, etc..
Cuttack has been divided into 10 zones for quick response to disaster situation. The PHD wing has been asked to keep generator sets ready so as to ensure unhindered drinking water supply across the city in the event of power failure. Steps are also being taken to ensure uninterrupted power supply to all vital establishments like the SCBMCH, Sishu Bhawan, Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre, etc., Mishra said.