Bhubaneswar, July 5: Poor planning on part of the municipal corporation's engineering wing has resulted in waterlogging problem for residents of Fisheries Lane near Chintamaniswar and investment loss for the civic body itself.

The 900-metre-long Fisheries Lane starts from the old post office and goes down towards the Chintamaniswar temple. In 2009, a drain was constructed - only along the upper-end of the road. Again in 2011, another drain was dug up through the middle of the same stretch.

However, none of the channels are connected with any other water outlet and ends halfway on the slope.

Such engineering fault, which consists of improper levelling of the water channels, therefore, results in flood-like situation in the area even after a small shower. Flooded with complaints from local residents over such a situation, three local councillors - Amaresh Jena (ward No. 45), Pushpanjali Sethi (42) and Rajalaxmi Nayak (43) - have requested authorities of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation to go for a combined drainage plan.

Fisheries Lane runs along the three wards.

Now, the job would require demolition of the existing three drains (two in upper-end and the one in the lower-end) and fresh digging up of a channel near the Chintamaniswar temple.

Jena, a senior councillor and chairman of the civic body's works committee, said: "The corporation will have to spend Rs 80 lakh for the 900-metre-long drain from the old post office till the Chintamaniswar temple. But, the question is why there was such a careless approach towards public spending? Again near my ward (45), the drain has to be revamped, so that the water from the other end can pass smoothly, and the gradient is maintained. The all inclusive cost would be nearly Rs 1.2 crore."

Local resident Rabi Ramjan Mohanty said: "Earlier, the rainwater from the road was directed to the Lakshmisagar lake through a natural passage, which was blocked in 2009 after a landowner had built a house on the passage. On the other hand, a real-estate developer near the old post office had dug up another drain in the same year. He, too, failed to join it to the main channel leading up to the Chintamaniswar end."

Another resident Rabindra Chhotray said: ". I can recall a last year incident when a huge volume of wastewater suddenly gushed in my cyber café located on the ground floor of my house along the lane. I had to unplug everything in the room as quickly as possible to avoid mishap," he said.

Councillor Sethi said: "The present mess was actually due to lack of co-ordination and monitoring by the junior engineers. We have requested engagement of a single junior engineer for the lane and the authorities have approved the proposal."

Councillor Nayak was not available for comment.

Deputy commissioner (projects and public relations) Srimanta Mishra said: "The drains were constructed long ago, so I cannot comment on them. But, we are having quality control and monitoring exercises on the engineering work. Last month, we had pointed out low-quality construction work in pond renovation, and officials were asked to file replies."