Sambalpur, May 13: Work on the city's two multipurpose flood shelters will be completed before the onset of monsoon, said a works department official.

The public works department, which is executing the project, has set a target of June 15 to complete the work. One of the shelters is being constructed at Samaleswari College in Durgapali and the other near Binakhandi Upper Primary School. Work on the project began in November 2014. Works department's sub-divisional officer R. Mohapatra said: "The flood shelter at Samaleswari College will be completed within a week, but the one at Binakhandi will take some time. However, the work will be completed before deadline."

The estimated cost of the Samaleswari College flood shelter is Rs 77.6 lakh, while the one at Binakhandi is estimated to cost Rs 77.2 lakh.

"The two-storied buildings will shelter people during floods. The buildings will have a lobby, two big rooms, toilets and other facilities for those affected," said a works department official.

"Water from the Mahanadi enters the city's low-lying areas during heavy rains, affecting thousands of people. The shelters will help tide over such situations ," said local resident Jitendra Mandal.

The city witnessed flood-like situation due to heavy rain in August 2014. In the absence of flood shelters, the administration had opened more than 20 relief centres in different schools and colleges to shelter the affected people. A similar situation was witnessed in 2011.

"City residents witness flood-like situations every year. However, the absence of flood shelters force the people affected to take shelter in the city's schools and kalyan mandaps. The new shelters are essential for Sambalpur. I am happy that those will be ready before the advent of monsoon. The buildings will help provide relief to the people," said another local resident Ranjan Jena.