Sambalpur: Slow pace of construction on a new sewerage network here has caused widespread resentment among residents.

Work on the sewerage treatment plant is in the progress on the city outskirts near Bhatra, but the laying of pipelines inside the city has become a problem for the construction company, public and the administration.

The construction firm has managed to lay pipelines on a 500m stretch despite taking up the job three months ago.

The company has dug 18ft on average without providing a service road or diversions. This has created problems for vehicular traffic and local residents.

"The project was supposed to help improve sanitation facilities here. Instead, it has made our life miserable," said Bhatra resident Jagdish Pati.

Two people have already died in accidents near the dug-up road at Bhatra.

The state government approved the Rs 324.32-crore project in July 2014 and the work was entrusted to Pune-based Engineering and Construction Pvt. Limited. The company has sub-leased the work to various contractors.

The road work has also affected supply of piped water in the locality with several underground lines being disconnected. The searing heat with the mercury touching 43°C has compounded the miseries of the people.

Despite complaints and directions to be careful while dealing with sensitive points such as water supply, the construction firm does not seem to serious about the issue, alleged local residents. Some residents approached district collector Samarth Verma and project head B.N. Dash regarding the problem.