India's first planned industrial city is finding it tough to tackle waterlogging this monsoon.
Be it the East Singhbhum district collectorate or Jamshedpur city SP office, every shower leads to waterlogging near their entrances in the wake of incessant rain this past fortnight.
At the district collectorate, one has to cross a pool of nearly 30 metres at the main gate to reach the building. A similar situation prevails at the city SP office nearby. Both the offices are located in Sakchi but fall in Bistupur thana area.
The district collectorate, which houses senior bureaucrats like deputy commissioner (DC), additional district magistrate (law and order), deputy development commissioner, additional DC, social welfare officer and deputy collector nazarat, sees an average footfall of 300 daily from 10.30am to 5.30pm. Departments like women and child welfare, district information and DRDA also function from here.
An employee at the district collectorate Navin Singh said earlier there was an outlet for rainwater, which used to be discharged into a drain near Jubilee Park. "But, it is clogged now," said Singh.
Visitors are the worst sufferers. Coming from a self-help group Moushumi Adhikari, who visited the district welfare department on the collectorate campus on Wednesday, said she waded through ankle-deep water.
"Barely 20 minutes of rain and the collectorate entrance is flooded. We had to feel our way through standing water. Ironically, vehicles of officials were parked on a comparatively dry area," said Adhikari.
The entrance of the city SP office tells a similar tale. It is also the entry point to the offices of DSP headquarters-I, DSP headquarters-II and DSP law and order, which witnesses a footfall of nearly 100 daily.
A staffer at the city SP office said both policemen and visitors face the problem. "Stagnant puddles are also mosquito breeding points," he said.
City SP Prashant Anand said he would take up the issue with the department concerned. "We will ensure the problem is sorted out by dumping sand or digging a proper outlet for standing water," he said.
ADC Sunil Kumar added they would seek Jusco's help. Agreed East Singhbhum executive engineer, building construction, Pankaj Kumar. "We will visit the spots and plan steps to prevent waterlogging. If needed, we will take Jusco's help," he said.
