Bhubaneswar, July 17: Ekamrakanan, one of the major attractions in the city, faces the threat of being flooded and its boundary wall damaged because of an illegal construction that encroaches on natural drainage channel No. 4.

Heaps of stones and earth dumped into the natural drainage channel as a result of unauthorised construction of a private building threatens to block the flow of water in the channel and consequently, flood the park.

The authorities of the Regional Plant Research Centre, which manages Ekamrakanan, have written a number of letters to various government agencies — Bhubaneswar Development Authority, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, the deputy commissioner of police, Nayapalli police station and officials of the state works department — to address the problem.

But the agencies concerned have yet to take any action.

“If the drainage channel is blocked, rainwater accumulated inside the park will not be able to flow out. This will render the park waterlogged as well as damage the boundary wall,” said a senior official of the plant research centre.

The drainage channel has been completely blocked by heaps of stones and earth dumped for ground-levelling work undertaken for construction of the private building. Local residents said the work started a month ago.

The natural drainage channel not only collects water from the public park but also areas in Nayapalli such as VIP area, N1, N2 and N3. A blocked channel would lead to waterlogging in these areas as well.

Natural drainage channel No. 4 starts from Ekamrakanan and ends at Chakeisiani to meet Gangua Nullah after travelling 9.77km across the city.

The longest drainage channel of the city passes through Ekamra Villa, Jayadev Vihar, Mayfair Hotel, Acharya Vihar, Regional Science Centre, Unit-IX Flats, Vani Vihar, VSS Nagar and Mancheswar before meeting Gangua Nullah after passing below Daya West Canal near Chakeisiani.

Originally, rainwater from the higher areas of the Regional Plant Resource Centre, Ekamrakanan and some parts of Chandaka forests was the source for the natural drainage channel. But now, sewage from VIP Area Nayapalli, N1, N2 and N3 and parts of Jayadev Vihar flow into it as well.

If the channel is blocked, it will also affect the public, as Ekamrakanan is among the most popular parks in the city.

Built in 1985, Ekamrakanan is spread over a sprawling 487 acres and has more than 4,000 plant species.

Sources at the plant research centre said around 3 lakh people visit the park annually.

Around 50 scientists of the plant research centre are dependant on Ekamrakanan for various projects. The institute is at present working on 20 projects of the state government.

Secretary of the development authority S. Kabi said he would look into the matter. “We will conduct a field visit and then take action,” said Kabi.

The Regional Plant Research Centre has made a mark as a grand repository of wild and cultivated plants.