The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has sought government funding for the construction of two major drainage projects.
The proposed drains aim to alleviate the perennial flooding problems on Iskcon Temple Road in Nayapalli and Bomikhal Road near Rasulgarh, areas that have long been affected during the monsoon season. The decision to approach the government for financial assistance comes at a time when the monsoon has already set in, raising concerns among residents about the timing and urgency of the initiative. Citizens have expressed frustration over the delayed action, questioning why the civic body has waited until the onset of the rainy season to address these longstanding issues.
The proposed drainage projects include a 1.6-kilometre drain near Iskcon Temple that will connect the National Highways Authority of India’s (NHAI) drain on the service road with the main drain near Nayapalli Haza. Additionally, a 1.5-kilometre box drain is planned for Bomikhal Road, extending from near Rasulgarh to the main drain near the Santoshi Maa Temple. These measures are intended to mitigate the heavy waterlogging that occurs annually on these stretches. City Engineer Bilash Kumar Behera explained that the BMC decided to seek government assistance because both the NHAI and the Public Works Department (PWD) have yet to complete the drainage projects on these roads. The NHAI is reportedly facing challenges in finishing the drain along the NH-16 service road near Iskcon Temple, while the PWD has not executed the Bomikhal drain project.
Residents have voiced their concerns over the delayed response. Jitendra Sahu, a regular commuter on Bomikhal Road, remarked, “When it is an old issue and both the roads are dealing with the menace of urban flooding for years, why has the corporation woken up so late?” With the monsoon rains already causing disruptions, locals in both Bomikhal and Nayapalli areas fear that the delay in addressing the drainage infrastructure issues will exacerbate the situation during heavy rains.
In response to the public outcry, BMC officials have stated that they are in talks with both the PWD and NHAI to implement adequate preventive measures to manage waterlogging on these stretches this season. The civic body has also initiated the deployment of 80 sanitary workers to monitor 48 waterlogging-prone areas across the city during the monsoon season. A toll-free number, 1929, has been activated for citizens to report waterlogging problems. This move by the BMC underscores the ongoing challenges faced by urban municipalities in managing infrastructure development and maintenance, particularly in rapidly growing cities like Bhubaneswar. The reliance on government funding for essential drainage projects highlights the need for more proactive planning and resource allocation to address urban flooding issues before the onset of the monsoon season.
As the city braces for more rainfall, the effectiveness of these proposed drainage projects will be closely monitored by residents and urban planners alike. The situation serves as a reminder of the critical importance of timely infrastructure development in safeguarding urban areas against the impacts of climate change and ensuring the well-being of city dwellers.
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