Commuters battle waterlogging in Bhubaneswar. Pictures by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, July 17: Incessant rain during the last two days, when the city experienced around 115mm of rainfall, has exposed several chinks in the administration.

While it has exposed lack of coordination between the civic, planning and engineering wings involved in the city’s development, people continue to suffer, with many in low-lying areas forced to remain indoors, as there is still three-foot high water flowing on roads.

Last night, people from places such as Bivab Estate, Satabdi Nagar (Phase II) and nearby areas were marooned as water from Baramunda, Central Reserve Police (CRP) and Unit-VIII flowed into the colony after crossing over the 100-foot road passing by the area.

Other city areas such as Acharya Vihar, Laxmisagar, Baramunda Village, Friends’ Colony, Ratna Villa, Shahid Nagar, Old Town, Bhimatangi, Jagmohan Nagar, and Brahmeswar Patna, also suffered from waterlogging.

However, in most of the places, faulty drainage system was to be blamed for waterlogging.

“Last night, we suffered as there was a flow of water as high as over three-foot into our colony. The water was flowing on the main road after breaching the 100-foot road connecting City Women’s College and Gandamunda.

“We had earlier requested the public works department to make provision for drainage channels on both sides of the road. But, they said the drain would be constructed only to take run off of the road, but not the entire catchment. As PWD engineers failed to complete the drains, water is coming from the upper stretch and flooding the two colonies,’’ said D.C. Mishra, a resident of Bivab Estate.

“In fact, BMC engineers have inspected our area to provide an internal drainage system and it will be addressed soon. But, the flood-like water coming from other areas is troubling us. According to the original sketch of Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), the drain coming from Paika Nagar area is flowing till Ratna Villa. But, in reality, it is blocked and diverted by some encroachers and the water is diverted towards the 100-foot road. It also affects the road badly as the drains are not yet ready. The authorities should try to remove the blockade first and build drains for the 100-foot road,’’ said Mishra.

Deputy municipal commissioner Priyadarshi Mohapatra said: “Problems related to coordination might be there but most of the drains are choked with nearby residents dumping solid wastes.

“People should stop this first. Regarding the diversion and encroachment on the drain coming from Paika Nagar, we will do a survey and act accordingly,’’ he added.

“Already, a renovation project of four major drainage channels has been started by the water resources department. There is plan to include more such drains for faster clearance of rainwater,’’ he added.

A senior BDA engineer said violation of the original plan approved by the development authority was a serious offence, and with a proper official complaint from the affected people, the authority could take an eviction drive to free the water channel from encroachment.

PWD engineers clarified there was some encroachment related issues for which the roadwork could not progress near two patches of the 100-foot road.