An earthmover, engaged in groundwork for a proposed multi-storied building of Jharkhand State Housing Board in Harmu, has damaged a 50-year-old sewage tank located nearby, further deteriorating the drainage system of the area in Ranchi.

Sources claimed that the heavy vehicle flattened the upper portion of the 10-feet-deep tank, which stores sewage released from over 300 houses of Harmu Housing Colony, resulting in waterlogged streets that forced local residents to wade through dirty water.

The septic tank is adjacent to the plot where the multi-storied building will come up and near the office of the housing board's managing director.

A local resident, Deepak Munda, said with this incident, which happened two days ago, they had lost all hopes for revival of the sewer system there.

"The drainage system in Harmu is already in a shambles and the tank has been in a dilapidated condition. However, we used to hope that someday it would be repaired and the drainage would be improved. But even after a vehicle deputed by the housing board damaged the tank, the authorities seem to be least bothered about repairing it. Then how can one expect a complete overhaul of the drainage," Munda argued.

Another resident, Gagan Shrivastava, said there was nothing wrong if the board undertook any development work in the area. "But it should take proper precaution to ensure that the existing drains and roads are not damaged," he added.

Board managing director Dilip Kumar Jha could not be contacted for comments as his mobile phone was switched off.

However, a board official, requesting anonymity, said the sewage tank was almost non-existent, apparently suggesting that it did not matter if it had been damaged.

According to the Bihar State Housing Board rules, which Jharkhand State Housing Board had adopted after the formation of the new state, open spaces, drains, streetlights and roads in colonies developed by the board should be transferred to the local civic body for maintenance.

Therefore, the responsibility of maintaining the sewage tank and drains rests with Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC).

"As a councillor of ward 37, my role is limited to raising the issue during the RMC board meetings. I already raised the issue of mismanagement of open space in the civic board meeting. Also, I recently met urban development minister C.P. Singh, demanding that the sewer system be improved here. Despite all these, the authorities concerned have not taken proper action to solve this genuine problem," said council Arun Kumar Jha.

When contacted, RMC town planner Gajanand Ram also expressed his inability and said it would not have happened if the housing board had taken help from any town planner.

"The chief town planner used to be member of the housing board. As the post of the chief town planner is vacant, no one is in the board to give proper advice. I am unable to say anything in this matter as I am not part of the housing board," he said.