Sambalpur, July 8: The municipal corporation has launched a drive to clean the drains across the city and hired additional sanitation workers for the purpose.

The Sambalpur Municipal Corporation's deputy commissioner Sundhansu Bhoi said: "As many as 100 sanitation workers have been engaged in the de-silting work of the drains. Moreover, we have also hired 40 additional sanitation workers from outside for the cleaning job."

Bhoi said five JCB machines, seven trucks, tractors and several other vehicles have been engaged for the drive. "The drive is going on in full swing. Drains of several areas of the city have already been cleaned. The entire job will be over within a couple of days," said Bhoi.

In May, the corporation had launched a drive and cleaned the drains of the city. The drive was launched on the backdrop of a jaundice outbreak. The corporation had to hire additional sanitation workers even then.

"The lack of cleanliness was one of the reasons behind the outbreak of jaundice in Sambalpur. The corporation had launched a drive and cleaned the drains a few months ago. However, the drains have again clogged at several places in the city. I am happy that the civic body has initiated steps to remove the silt from the drains," said local resident Bidya Behera.

"The corporation had set a target to clean all the drains before the advent of the monsoon. Since rains has already set in, they should accelerate the job. Otherwise, the residents of the city will be made to suffer," said another resident Dibya Ranjan Parida.