Bhubaneswar: The housing and urban development department has sanctioned Rs 6.10 crore to construct box-type storm water drains along the natural drainage channel No. 4 to avoid recurrence of the waterlogging situation at Acharya Vihar.

Last November, the civic body submitted a proposal to the government for the project that aims to divert the natural drainage channel to tackle acute waterlogging.

"We will now float the tender for the construction of the project," said an official of the civic body.

The project parameters include diverting the drainage channel, which runs through Madhusudan Nagar, Nayapalli, Vani Vihar, Pandara, Gadakana and Bhoi Nagar, at Acharya Vihar. The decision was taken to avoid waterlogging, which is caused by frequent clogging of rainwater at the point.

The drainage division of the civic bodywill execute the work in which excess water coming via the channel will be diverted to the other end near the Regional Science Centre through the box-type drain to bring the flooding menace under control.

Residents of low-lying areas at Acharya Vihar have long suffered from waterlogging problems, even after a brief spell of rain. Residents are forced to wade through knee-deep waters during this time.

The residents of the neighbourhood had, several times in the past, requested the civic authorities to take up the work on an urgent basis and the decision has come as a relief to them. "Though the situation is not as it was a few years back, we still face waterlogging problems," said local resident Bhagbat Dash.

Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena said with the government approval, he will ensure that the drainage division officials take up the work on a priority basis.

"We were not being able to take up the work in the past since our drainage division was not fully functional. However, that situation has changed now," said Jena.