Bhubaneswar, June 29: The municipal corporation has begun repair of roads and drains across the city to prevent urban flooding during monsoon.

The drive was launched after the housing and urban development department ordered all urban local bodies to remain alert and take appropriate steps to prevent monsoon disasters such as urban flooding.

According to the plan, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) will repair roads to ensure immediate discharge of rainwater to avoid waterlogging. The municipal corporation will also repair and undertake restoration of the drinking water supply system and deploy tankers in case of emergency.

"The housing and urban development department has asked us to take emergency measures to avoid any disaster, especially urban floods. We have already cleared the drains of silt and are now undertaking repair and construction of drains in various parts of the city," said mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.

Jena said drain and road construction was already on at places such as Damana, Acharya Vihar and Old Town. "This is a periodic work we undertake to construct and repair, but keeping the ongoing monsoon in view, we have prioritised low-lying areas," the mayor said, adding they were ready to tackle any emergency.

For years rains have been pouring torment on residents of Acharya Vihar, GGP Colony, Nayapalli, Old Town and Tankapani. "Monsoon is a bane for us. A few hours of rain inundates our area. However, the situation improved last year. I hope the same will be true this year too," said Krishna Prasad Das, a resident of Mahatab Road.

The snail's pace of work to lay underground cables by Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited and Central Electricity Supply Utility across the city has triggered the threat of urban flooding. In April, a few councillors raised the issue at the corporation's meeting.

"The underground cable laying work is being done without adhering to norms. The ongoing work will create a serious drainage issue and urban flooding in the city. The agencies undertaking the work are laying the cables haphazardly without caring about the rules. Moreover, the slow pace of work is a major problem. There should be immediate action on it," said councillor Pranab Kishore Swain.

At present, cable laying work is on at the Cuttack-Puri Highway, Bidyut Marg and areas near Sachivalaya Marg.

"It is such a waste of money. The workers had dug up the ground for the underground cable laying work and left the scene. The rain and the sludge filling has already created a pit," said Sanyashi Mohapatra, a resident of Kharavela Nagar.