Overflowing drains and stagnant water have turned into ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes at Sikharpur in Cuttack. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Nov. 2: Residents of Sikharpur have expressed their dissatisfaction over the Cuttack Municipal Corporation, which has allegedly failed to initiate substantial measures to improve their living conditions.

A number of drainage channels at Korapokhari and Uppersahi localities that fall in ward No. 42 of the corporation have been lying defunct for long.

“We have been reeling from acute civic neglect for the past four years as no step were taken to clean up the clogged drainage channels of the area,” said Prashant Mishra, 42, a local resident.

Mishra said all drains of the locality were overflowing throughout the year. The problem gets compounded during the rainy season as wastewater enters their homes.

Most of the surface drains of the corporation are connected with that of the National Highway 5. The wastewater generated from Korapokhari, Uppersahi and nearby localities passes through the highway’s drain before it is discharged to the main stormwater channel No. 2.

There is a problem in the passage of wastewater here as the national highway’s drain is also clogged. This is ultimately affecting the flow of wastewater from different localities under Sikharpur.“The national highway’s drain has been remained blocked for long. No step has been taken for removal of silt and other waste stuff from it. As a result, wastewater cannot be easily discharged from the locality,” said Abhimanyu Sahu, 37, another local resident.

Sahu said the corporation officials should discuss the drainage issue with the National Highways Authority of India’s Orissa section.

Overflowing drains and stagnant water in the locality have also become breeding grounds for mosquitoes. The Sikharpur residents alleged that the corporation authorities had taken no step to prevent the mosquito menace either.

Councillor of ward No. 42 Pradyumna Pradhan also admitted that the Sikharpur residents were facing problems because of poor drainage systems. “We have complained to the national highway authorities regarding the clogged drain a number of times. But, it has taken no step for the drain’s desiltation. The corporation does not have equipment to clear the underground channel,” he said.

The national highway authorities, however, could not be contacted despite several attempts.