Chocked drains cause flood-like situation in Sambalpurs. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur, July 17: Choked drains are the main reasons behind the flood-like situation in the city. The heavy downpour of yesterday had crippled the lives of many in different parts of the city.

This was not the first time such situation happened in Sambalpur. Every monsoon, rain creates a flood like situation here.

The heavy downpour had played havoc yesterday not only in the Housing Board Colony, other areas of the city were also affected severely by it. Motijharan, Sakshipara, Bahalpara, Nuapara, Hanuman Colony, Gopalmal and Gujrati Colony were severely affected by the downpour.

“The two major drains, Dhobijor Nala and Tangna Nala, have been clogged with silt. Civic authorities have done little to remove them. As a result, rainwater does not find space to flow and overflowing water enters the houses in some areas in the city,” said Jnana Prakash Sahu, a local resident.

“The municipality is also dumping garbage along these drains, resulting in choking of drains. The authorities should remove the silt every year before the advent of the monsoon. That is the only way in which the man-made flood can be avoided. Moreover, the drains have shrunk because of unauthorised encroachment along the drains,” said Purusottam Thela, another local resident.

“The municipality should initiate steps to remove the silt from the drains. In 1982, the irrigation department had prepared the drainage plan for the city and constructed those drains and culverts as per the plan. Now, the municipality should take initiatives to maintain these drains and remove the silt,” said executive engineer of the irrigation department Prabhat Chandra Patnaik.

“A sum of Rs 1.15 crore had been sanctioned by the special relief commissioner to the irrigation department in order to clean the drains of the city. Orissa Construction Corporation had executed the work two years ago. Now, the drains have become choked again. The revenue department should demarcate the drains properly so that we can think of a permanent solution to this problem,” said Patnaik.