Red soil dumped on the path of the drainage channel at Paikanagar towards the Delta Square-Fire Station Square Road in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, April 12: Cases of land grabbing and encroachment are on the rise in the capital. Just a week after the encroachment of the Gangua nullah near Brahmeswar Patna and an hotelier’s indiscriminate dumping of excavated soil on the natural drainage channel No. 10, a builder has started encroaching a drainage channel in Paikanagar area under ward No. 27.

This channel is a tributary of the natural drainage channel No. 8, which starts from the Baramunda area and its blocking would result in the waterlogging of Paiknagar area. The drainage channel emanates from near Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) campus and enters Paikanagar after passing under National Highway-5 (NH)-5. Officers of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) admitted that on several occasions in the past the enforcement wing of the civic body had to intervene and break walls and houses in Paikanagar area to ensure free flow of water in the channel. The broken boundary walls and some houses are still visible in the area.

Councillor of ward No. 27, Kanakalata Swain, said: “Some unscrupulous land developers in the city have gone to such an extent that they have started playing with the nature. The channel carries the rainwater from CRPF campus but its catchment area is much larger, extending up to the Rental Colony and VIP area of Nayapalli. While flowing through Paikanagar, the drainage channel faces several hurdles, so by depositing red moorum soil towards the end of the area will definitely create fresh trouble.’’

“I will take the matter to the civic authorities and see that the natural drainage channel is not blocked. Already many areas behind the Baramunda village and near the petrol pump on the Delta Square-Fire Station Square on the course of the channel have been blocked earlier creating hurdles in clearance of the rain water,’’ she added.

Retired professor of geology, Utkal University, Nabakishore Mahalik, said: “The drainage channel, which meets natural drainage channel No. 8 is also an important tributary channel which has not been numbered, but serve a larger catchment area. Already we have converted the natural drainage channels to sewerage lines, so at least their course should not be blocked. Blocking the channels will also result in waterlogging and contamination of pipe water supply by the Public Health Engineering Organisation.’’ “The civic and planning authorities should take serious steps regarding encroachment of the drainage channel. As their origin depends on the natural topography of a catchment, we should not block their flow. Otherwise it will result in natural disasters. Many water bodies are dying due to uncontrolled urbanisation activities. So the rest of the remaining ones must not be left uncared for,’’ he added.

A senior BMC official admitted that due to increasing population pressure contributed by in-migration due to progress of the city as a major commercial and educational hub has resulted in faster housing development needs and expansion. This has affected the natural drainage channels, which act as the carriers of rainwater.

“The particular channel originating from the CRPF campus and of about one kilometre length is very vital in clearing rainwater in Paikanagar and its downstream areas. The encroachment of the channel towards the end of Paikanagar will create serious problems for the inhabitants during rainy season. The enforcement officials will look into the matter and the violator will be dealt with as per the provisions under the Orissa Municipal Corporation Act, 2003,’’ he added.