An overflowing drain at Chandanpadia, Khannagar, in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Oct. 24: The bad condition of roads and drainage system in various areas of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) is adversely affecting a large number of people.

Such an area is Chandanpadia at Khannagar, which is in ward No. 41 of CMC.

“The entire drainage system of Khannagar has become outdated. The drains overflow whenever there is an excess release of wastewater from the locality,” said Shiba Behera, a local resident.

During the last couple of years, the problem has assumed serious proportions at Chandanpadia, which is a low lying area as compared to the height of the Ring Road that surrounds the city.

Behera said most of the drains in the area overflow because the authorities do not clean them regularly.

He also said that old drains should be upgraded and new ones built in Khannagar keeping in mind the rising population.

The residents of Chandanpadia face a lot of difficulties because of acute waterlogging during monsoon.

“Discharging wastewater from the locality has become a problem because of the slope. As a result, there is accumulation of water inside the colony for nearly two hours even after short spells of rain,” said Shayamsundar Sahu, another local resident.

Besides drainage, overall sanitation is another area of concern and the residents allege that household waste generated from the locality is not collected on a regular basis.

Similarly, the condition of roads in most of the lanes and bylanes at Khannagar are also in bad shape.

On the other hand, councillor of ward No. 41 Akshay Behera said adequate steps were being taken to maintain all-round sanitation in the ward.

“The main culvert at Chandanpadia is narrow as it passes through a private plot of land. The CMC junior engineer has visited the spot and repair work will be taken up soon,” the councillor said.

Usually motor pumps are used to drain out excess water accumulated in the locality when it rains. Efforts would also be made to repair other drainage channels in the ward, he added.