Bhubaneswar: There is no end to the blame game over waterlogging near Iskcon temple with the public works department accusing the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) of faulty flyover and approach road design.

Listing the accusations, chief engineer (road), public works department, O.P. Patel, has shot off a letter to the regional officer, NHAI.

Patel has stated in his letter that waterlogging takes places as the hydrology of the area was not taken into account while planning the flyover and its related roads. He has also argued that lack of vents in the high embankment of the six-lane highway caused rainwater to stagnate for such long period. "Before construction of high embankment for the six-lane road, the rainwater was getting discharged over the entire area from CRP Square to Vani Vihar at several points. Surface run-off from the road and the high embankment has further aggravated the problem," he said.

Patel said they had prepared a proposal for dispersion of storm water on this stretch and submitted it to the NHAI for taking up mitigation measures.

"The civic body is taking up initial measures to prevent waterlogging, while we have prepared a long-term plan to avoid the situation," he said.

The area near Iskcon temple saw severe waterlogging last week with rainwater stagnating and reaching a height of about 3ft. This compelled the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation to take up measures to clear the area of waterlogging.

"There is a need to have a long-term plan to end waterlogging along the national highway. The highway authorities have been asked time and again to intervene into the matter. We hope the proposal of the works department will be considered to avoid a repeat of the situation," said mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.

NHAI officials said that they had received the proposal. It has been forwarded to the NHAI headquarters in New Delhi for approval.

"We have prioritised the matter. Once it is approved, steps will be taken," said an NHAI official.

Residents sounded sceptical about the developments.

"It is not the first time that the area witnessed such waterlogging. It has been recurring every year. The authorities should have taken the steps much earlier," said Nayapalli resident Sitakanta Mishra.