Vulnerable points along the main stormwater channel No.1 at Gahmandia in Cuttack. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack Aug. 24: The recent spell of rain has exposed the Cuttack Municipal Corporation’s tall claims of having taken measures to repair the main stormwater channel No. 1.

The wastewater from the main drain spilled out near Gahmandia following a heavy downpour last evening. It was flowing almost to the level of the road causing apprehension of inundation among the local residents.

“The city has witnessed heavy rain twice in this week. Yesterday, the wastewater was flowing at the road level near Gahmandia owing to lack of repair of the channel wall that had been damaged for the past couple of years,” said Seikh Abdul Raqib, 42, a local resident.

The situation became worse during the previous spell of rain earlier this week as the wastewater was flowing over a large portion of the road. It had taken three hours to recede from the area.

“My shop is located on main road. I was afraid of inundation. Had the rain continued for whole night, the wastewater would have entered my shop,” Raqib said.

The main stormwater channel No. 1 carried bulk of the wastewater generated from the city. The channel passes through a number of localities before the wastewater is released in the Kathajodi river after treatment at Matagajpur.

The channel’s retaining wall is left damaged at few places from Gahmandia up to Professorpara. The wall’s height at Professorpara is, however, higher compared to the existing breach at Gahmandia.

Earlier on June 22, The Telegraph published a report on the vulnerable points along the main stormwater channel No. 1 on Gahmandia and Bajrakabati road.

Though the corporation officials had then assured the local residents of speedy repair of the damaged portions, no step has been taken so far.

“There is always a possibility of wastewater entering the local residents’ homes.

However, no sandbags have been placed there to prevent inundation or any untoward situation,” said Shamim Khan, another local resident.

The corporation officials said the channel work had already been included in the upcoming Japan International Cooperation Agency project.

“We have not yet initiated the repair work on the channel No. 1 as the plan has already been included in the Japan International Cooperation Agency project, which is scheduled to begin in a couple of months,” said an official.

Moreover, there is no reason to panic as the wastewater has so far not spilled out from the drain.

Similarly, there was no chance of inundation as the rainwater was receding in almost an hour, the official said.