Too wet for comfort: File picture of a waterlogged street in Kankerbagh last year and (below) a crane that developed snag on a flooded road in Patna

Patna, April 21: The nation is upbeat over the Met department’s normal monsoon prediction but the residents of the low-lying areas in east Patna have taken it with a pinch of salt fearing waterlogging. They are keeping their fingers crossed, hoping that the agencies responsible for keeping the city streets dry during the rains get their act together.

Some of them are rather sceptical about the “no waterlogging” claim of the authorities. “I would be more than happy if the promises for proper drainage are kept. But I would like to point out that after the drains are cleaned, the silt and the litter are left unattended on the road. I hope such nuisance would not be repeated this time,” said Nihar Ranjan, a resident of Rajendra Nagar.

A number of agencies, including the public works department, the road construction department, the rural works department, Bihar State Electricity Board, Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Bihar Rajya Jal Parishad (BRJP), co-ordinate to ensure proper drainage and uninterrupted discharge of rainwater.

“The city is divided into four zones — Nootan Rajdhani circle, Bankipore circle, Kankerbagh circle and Patna City circle — under the PMC. An enforcement officer heads each circle. The cleaning of all minor, medium and major drains, canals, manholes, catchpits and silt traps has started from the first week of April. Labour and machine are used to unclog the drains to ensure a free passage of storm water. Weekly assessment of such work is being done to ensure that we are ready for the monsoon,” said Ram Swarath Singh, chief engineer, PMC.

At present, the city of Patna has about 535 drains, of which nine are major, 14 medium and 514 small. The water from these goes to four sewerage plants at Beur, Pahari, Karmalichak and Saidpur. These plants purify the sewage and discharge the treated water in Thanuwa and Baksahi open canals that carry the water to Punpun.

Special measures are being taken this year to deal with areas that witness heavy waterlogging.

“Officials of PMC and BRJP will co-ordinate to deal with waterlogging and problems related to rainwater drainage. Around 350 workers will be deployed in all the wards 24x7. All pumping stations would also co-ordinate. Citizens would be provided with emergency numbers in the coming days so that they can lodge complaints about waterlogging,” Singh added.

Patna residents believe that only proper co-ordination between the citizens and the authorities can help the city get rid of the waterlogging menace.

“Manhole covers are often stolen or broken. Bodies of dead cattle are also dumped in open canals. This hampers the drainage and the pumping. The civil society should be responsible and aid the authorities in keeping the city streets clean,” said Piyush Sinha, a resident of Mithapur.

Harshita Kanchan, a resident of Kankerbagh that witnesses the most waterlogging, said: “Monsoon is a time to celebrate. Proper drainage should be ensured so that we do not dread the approach of the beautiful season.”

High and dry may not be a bad thing after all.