Sambalpur: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has accepted two proposals submitted by the district administration for construction of sidewalls of Tangna nullah and a systematic drainage system of rainwater.

The nullah, passing through the town and mostly the slum areas, creates problem in the low-lying areas during rains for poor release of floodwater.

District collector Samarth Verma presented the proposals before the chief minister during the flood review meeting at Jamadarpali airstrip in the district on Tuesday. The construction of Tangna nullah, including raising of its concrete sidewalls, will cost Rs 130 crore, while the rainwater drainage system will cost Rs 110 crore.

Naveen also agreed to the proposal to set up an unit of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (Odraf) in Sambalpur. At present, the district administration gets the services of Odraf team from Jharsuguda.

The district administration had submitted detailed project report for Rs 110 crore for the drainage system of rainwater from Sambalpur town. A Bangalore-based TTI Consulting Engineers (E) Pvt Limited company had prepared the report on the basis of calculating rainfall and drainage problems of the past 22 years, sources said.

Naveen also discussed with Sambalpur MLA Raseswari Panigrahi, Rengali MLA Ramesh Phatua and senior officials about the recent flood. He has expressed satisfaction the way the officials handled the situation, Panigrahi said, adding "he took keen interest on the issues raised by us and assured us of looking into those".

Verma also submitted a proposal to Naveen for construction of Biju Pucca House for the people, whose houses were affected and washed away because of floods instead of paying cash of Rs 75,000. The new proposal asked for a change in the state relief code, to which Naveen said he would look into it.