Water flows on to the road at Kalinga Vihar due to a fault in a sewage line Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, April 4: The Kalinga Vihar housing colony — developed by the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) over a decade ago — still lacks crucial civic amenities.

The project was developed to address the requirements of all sections of people, including higher, middle and lower income groups. While the housing colonies are lying without proper maintenance and care, majority of the plots are yet to be developed by the owners.

“A scheme attached to the project was preferred mostly by retired persons as they were hoping for a peaceful stay in the area. But after so many years, basic civic amenities such as sewerage, solid waste cleaning and recreation facilities are yet to be developed. In most of the houses, only elderly people reside as their children live outside the state. As a result, old people cannot run around to get things done,” said Prof. B.C. Rath, retired principal of BJB College, Bhubaneswar, and president of Kalinga Vihar Community Welfare Association.

This area has 449 higher income group (HIG) houses but even now 61 are lying vacant, as the allotees are yet to take possession of their property. As the vacant houses have not been used for such a long time, they are becoming hideouts for criminals. Thefts in the locality have become a common affair.

Many areas in the HIG area are without streetlights. “The BDA authorities asked us to pay for the maintenance as they claimed that once the buildings are constructed, the house owners have to take up the extra cost. But we think there should be proper transfer of civic responsibilities to the urban local body. On the other hand, 61 core houses are lying unutilised in our colony. Since all the allotees are not there, who would share the burden? These people should be forced by BDA to use their houses,” said Rath.

Not only the HIG area, but even the middle-income group (MIG) colony on the left side of National Highway (NH) - 5 is facing many problems.

“The major issue is streetlighting. As the area is yet to be taken over by the civic authorities, we have to look after the light posts. But organising all the residents and making them pay for their share has become a difficult job. So, many streets in the MIG colony continue to remain in the dark. Due to the darkness, the thieves in the area have also become active,” said anaesthesiologist Shantanu Hazra, a resident of the colony.

Most of the residents of the MIG colony are retired persons, but the open spaces meant for schools and parks have neither been utilised nor used as per the original plan.

Master Apollo, a resident of the lower income group (LIG) colony in the Kalinga Vihar area, said: “There is no market complex nearby. Two are under construction. The sewerage system is paralysed and it should be maintained properly.”

Regarding the transfer of the villages such as Patrapada, Bhagabanpur, Paikrapur, Sankarpur and Subudhipur, a senior BDA official added that the development authorities have written to the state government and the decision is lying with the latter.

On civic amenities and maintenance of Kalinga Vihar, BDA vice-chairman Deoranjan Kumar Singh said till the area is taken over by the civic body, the maintenance wing of the organisation will address the problems.

“For those not using core houses or plots for residential purpose, notices were issued and they will be warned to complete their works,” he added. Regarding transfer of the five villages to BMC, fold municipal commissioner Vishal Dev, said: “The municipal council has to take a decision in this regard and after that the state government will follow it.”

“The council has approved the proposal and the letter was sent a year ago to the state government. I hope the decision will be taken soon in this regard,” said mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.