BHUBANESWAR: A day after seeking Central intervention for an early solution to waterlogging problem along National Highway 16 which passes through the city, the State Government on Thursday decided to improve the drainage system in the Capital on a war-footing. Even as Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced a slew of measures to address waterlogging issues in different locations of the Capital, the State Government on Thursday directed Works Department to construct an underground drain from CRP Square to Vani Vihar via Jaydev Vihar to clear rain water from service lane near Iskcon temple.
“The proposed underground drain will be executed by the Works Department in close coordination with National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). The State Government will provide fund for the project,” Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi told reporters after a high-level meeting. The Department has been asked to prepare a project report with detailed estimate for immediate execution of the work, he added. Padhi, who chaired the meeting, also directed BMC to clear unauthorised constructions choking the natural drains of the city and acquire private land wherever necessary for improvement of drainage system.
The existing 9 storm water drainage system and 3 branch drains are too inadequate to clear rain water of the city. Besides, most of the drains have lost their water carrying capacity as unauthorised constructions have constricted the passage. The BMC was asked to initiate land acquisition process by compensating the affected persons and if necessary by providing land as a measure of compensation.
After discussing the waterlogging issues threadbare, the meeting decided appropriate measures to resolve the problems in different areas of the city, including Chandaka Industrial Estate, Gouri Nagar, Ahalya Nagar and Soubhagya Nagara where the problem is more acute. As a temporary measure, the meeting decided to provide 20 high-powered pump sets to Bhubaneswar Fire Service Station for pumping of storm water. Presently, the city fire service organisation has eight such pump sets. On Wednesday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik sought the intervention of Union Minister for Road Transport and Highway Niti Gadkari to the waterlogging problem along NH-16 following public outarage over government inertia.