Bhubaneswar, Sept. 10: The state government has instructed the municipal corporation and development authority to take immediate steps to end waterlogging on the busy national highway in front of Iskcon temple in Nayapalli.

The director of municipal administration, Sanjib Kumar Mishra, last week wrote to the commissioner of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and vice-chairman of Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) to take steps so that encroachment over the drain could be removed, as this would facilitate proper cleaning of the channel.

The road in front of Iskon temple has been underwater for past few weeks causing inconvenience to commuters.

In June this year, the residents had blocked the road to protest against waterlogging. Officials, including the mayor, rushed to the spot to control the situation from going out of hand. However, the condition of the road continues to remain the same.

The Telegraph had also reported how the waterlogging had been causing problem to people.

Mishra wrote that chief secretary Gokul Chandra Pati had instructed the urban development department to give report on the situation on September 1 following which officials of the BMC and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) visited the spot.

On September 4 they submitted a report, which pointed out that two new under construction apartments in the area have been causing difficulty in the flow of the drain water.

Debris used to construct the buildings were being dumped on the drains that choked the flow of the water and eventually caused waterlogging.

"The corporation and development authority were asked to ensure that the debris from the under construction apartments are not left on the road or near it as these blocks the channels," said Mishra.

The NHAI is planning to construct drains along and across the highway to divert rainwater from the area. Moreover, the authorities have been asked to see to it that the construction of a few drains that were stalled due to land disputes are completed at the earliest.

Besides, BDA officials were asked to revisit the approvals given to apartments on either side of the highway, particularly those on the side of Krishna towers, which is on the down stream of the drainage channel.

Corporation officials, however, said following the visit of the team, which included the city engineer of the BMC, several steps have been taken.

"A channel was made to facilitate release of water into a drain. Besides, steps are being taken in order to find a permanent solution," said a senior officer of the municipal corporation.

HELLISH TWO-AND-A HALF HOUR AT RAVI TALKIES SQUARE 

Vehicles were stuck at Ravi Talkies Square for more than two and half hours — 9.30am to noon — as the road was dug up for construction of drains along the Puri-Cuttack Road (NH-203). Though the decision was taken more than a month ago, the absence of traffic police made the situation worse