Bhubaneswar, July 27: The urban and housing development department today swung into action and called an emergency meet after drawing flak from chief minister Naveen Patnaik for the sorry state of affairs in the capital following torrential rain.
The emergency meeting, held under the chairmanship of urban development minister Sarada Prasad Nayak, decided to chalk out a drainage master plan for the city.
Urban development secretary Saurabh Garg said: “All encroachments on the natural drainage channels will be evicted. All secondary and tertiary drains linking to the 10 natural drainage channels of the city will be cleared. Necessary instructions to this effect have been given to the line departments concerned.”
According to the decision, an integrated drainage master plan for the city will be implemented in letter and spirit and no deviation will be allowed in this regard. “All line departments such as, the public works department, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and the national highways (Orissa), have been asked to take up the drainage work of their roads. All roads should have a proper drainage system of their own. We have found many irregularities. Many departments have left their works mid-way,” he said.
Garg said various clogging points in the drainage system had been identified and it would be cleared soon. “City engineer of the BMC has been asked to hold a meet of all engineers from all departments once every month,” he said.
To arrange funds to take up the cleaning work, Garg said the special relief commission would be asked to place funds for this purpose. “Chief engineer of the drainage division has been asked to look after the drainage system,” he said.
Vice-chairman of the Bhubaneswar Development Authority Deoranjan Kumar Singh called for an integrated-road plan within the development authority plan area with mandatory drainage outlet for each road to carry the storm water run off. Commissioner Vishal Kumar Dev said the enforcement wing of the corporation would go for a major eviction drive to free the natural drainage channels from illegal encroachment.
Senior BJP leader Biswa Bhusan Harichandan said there was a need for immediate intervention by the chief minister to ensure a better drainage system across the city. “It is unfortunate to see a state capital reeling from man-made flood and only an efficient administrative role can change the situation,” he said.
Earlier in February, the state government has decided to include all natural drainage channels for renovation work. Four such channels had been included in the list for which funds were earmarked under the JNNURM with an allocation of Rs 68.33 crore.
At a review meeting, Naveen had announced the government would take up the renovation work of five additional drainage channels with its own funding through the water resources department. The renovation plan for drainage channel No. 9 will be taken up by the Bhubaneswar Development Authority.
The Telegraph’s campaign on the natural drainage channels has made the authorities consider the proposal, as blockade of the channels, including encroachments, has created waterlogging problems in many areas.
Apart from the renovation plan of the 10 natural drainage channels, there will also be a detailed plan to include the secondary and tertiary drains (local drains) under a Rs 600 crore comprehensive development plan for the stormwater drainage system.
The urban development department has chalked out a strategy for which a detailed project report has been under preparation by a Singapore-based consultant.
