Collapse of the retaining walls in Cuttack.Pictures by Badrika Nath Das and Sarat Patra

Cuttack, May 8: A major portion of a road and the retaining wall along the main stormwater channel No. 1 at Professorpara here has collapsed during a recent desiltation exercise by the Cuttack Municipal Corporation.

Local residents believe the collapse of the stormwater channel retaining wall may inundate the area if urgent measures are not taken to repair the retaining wall at the earliest.

Last week also, around 20 metres of a road and retaining wall had collapsed during excavation of silt from the main drain at Meria Bazar.

“The extensive damage has been caused to the road and the retaining wall at both the places mainly because of the negligence of the authorities,” said Deepak Sethi, a local resident. He said the retaining wall at Meria Bazar had collapsed under the impact of the heavy machines that were used for removal of silt from the main drain.

Official sources said the annual desiltation drive had already begun and all the major and surface drains would be cleared before the arrival of monsoon.

The desiltation drive is necessary to ensure that there is no waterlogging in low-lying areas because of choked drains during the rainy season. The corporation spends around Rs 1.5 crore for desiltation every year.

A major part of the retaining wall along the main stormwater channel No.1 has weakened because of lack of measures for its repair and maintenance.

The corporation had repaired the retaining wall at Kesharpur and Professorpara after The Telegraph pointed out vulnerable points along the drain last year. An official of the corporation said steps would be taken soon to repair the road and retaining wall that have been damaged during the desiltation drive.

“Bulk of the retaining wall along the main drain is old and could not withstand the pressure of the heavy desiltation machines. However, efforts have already been taken for repair of the road and retaining wall and the project would be completed within a week,” said the corporation’s executive engineer Ashok Parida.