Drain work on near the collector’s residence at Tulasipur in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, June 20: The municipal corporation is taking measures to ensure that there is no blockage in the flow of storm water channels due to the ongoing work of the Japan International Co-operation Agency-assisted drainage and sewerage project in the city.

Officials feel that the construction could obstruct rainwater at three major points.

At present, renovation of the main storm water channel No. 1 is being carried out near the collector’s residence at Tulasipur, Khatbin Sahi and near the Matrubhavan sluice gate.

“We have asked the agency officials to clear all the blockages along the drainage channels at the earliest,” said Cuttack Municipal Corporation commissioner Gyana Ranjan Das.

The construction of micro tunnelling under the agency project is under way at several places in the city. The project, once in place, would have proper sewerage and drainage system, which the city has been lacking for a long period of time. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik laid the foundation stone for the mega project in October 2012.

The civic body commissioner said focus had been given on the main storm water channel No. 1 that discharges of bulk of the city’s waste water, especially at the collector’s residence at Tulasipur, which is the originating point of the main drain.

The other two points are Khatbin Sahi and the Matrubhavan sluice gate. The authorities have constituted a squad to visit various places to ensure that the instructions were properly carried out.

The city had faced waterlogging in various parts during rains in May last.

Corporation officials and mayor Anita Behera had visited the spot and ordered for immediate clearance of the blockages.

“Any kind of obstruction in the main channel might create problem in the free flow of waste water, which might spill onto the roads and lead to waterlogging,” said Mahanadi Vihar resident Ajay Prusty.