Cuttack, Dec. 26: Residents of Rausapatna and Meria Bazar stalled the ongoing construction over the main storm water channel No. 1 under the integrated sanitation project for long hours here today in protest against the civic body's callous attitude.

Accusing the Cuttack Municipal Corporation for its failure in ensuring proper sanitation, the residents removed the safety grills installed on the drain to facilitate the construction as a mark of their protest.

They alleged that all the waste dumped in several drainage channels was getting accumulated in front of their houses because of the safety grills installed at two places to facilitate the construction.

"Wastewater is not passing through as all the floating materials, including dead animals, plastic and other garbage, are getting stuck at the safety grills. As the corporation is not clearing the garbage from drains, we are forced to keep our doors and windows shut as bad odour keeps emanating from the waste round the clock," said local resident Maheswar Das.

Das further said the entire main storm water channel has turned into a major breeding site for mosquitoes in the city because of wastewater stagnation.

It is for the second time in the past one week that the residents have staged such demonstration against the civic apathy. Last week, they had staged a roadblock.

"The civic body had deployed four sanitary workers to remove the waste from the drainage channel after the roadblock. But as no step was taken for regular disposal of garbage from the channel, we removed the grills so that the garbage got washed away to a distance," said another local resident, Sweta Pradhan.

BJP leader Lalatendu Badu said the corporation as well the contractors engaged in the work had turned a blind eye towards the genuine problems faced by residents.

"The is severe resentment among the local people. Today, they removed the safety grills after a public meeting. The residents have also threatened to gherao the corporation office if steps were not taken for immediate clearance of garbage from the channel," said Badu.

The civic body, on the other hand, claimed that Jica officials were providing JCB machines, while the corporation engaged tractors for immediate removal of waste from the channel.

"Earlier, joint initiative was taken for clearance of floating materials during night hours, but the local people opposed it. We are holding discussions with Jica officials to find an alternative so that there is no stagnation of wastewater and waste could be lifted easily," said municipal commissioner Gyana Das.