Rourkela: Residents of Koelnagar here have threatened to launch an agitation if the administration did not address its crumbling sewerage infrastructure.

"It is in total shambles," said Koelnagar resident S. Jena, alleging that they had to wade through water from overflowing drains caused by choking. The administration has already been allocated funds to revamp the infrastructure. But, nothing has been done yet and it has inconvenienced local residents. "It is a daily sight. We pay holding tax and other taxes and get such services," said another local resident.

A group of residents had met former MLA and current Rourkela Development Authority chairman Sarada Nayak and apprised him about the condition.

"He listened to us, but did not commit anything," said a member of the delegation.

Former ward No. 29 councillor Anup Samal said the situation was precarious, but he was helpless. He claimed that he had received no response from municipal corporation officials when he approached them.

"They are waiting for a major tragedy," he said. Efforts of The Telegraph to Nayak did not materialise. The Rourkela Steel Plant had laid an underground sewerage system during its construction of Koelnagar.

The sprawling residential area requires revamp of the entire system because of the three-fold rise in population from the erstwhile 2,500 families.

"The municipality was never equipped for such modern projects. The system began to suffer from the absence of maintenance," said a municipality employee.

The government had earlier included Koelnagar as part of the underground sewerage system project along with the smart city mission. Once it was included in the project, the Rourkela Municipal Corporation almost stopped maintenance work, residents alleged. The civic body's junior engineer for Koelnagar, Brojen Das, said it had identified 72 manholes for maintenance. Das said: "The project has been handed over to the sewerage board and they only they can answer about the delay."

He said the estimated cost for manhole project had been submitted with the municipal corporation and the tender process for maintenance would begin shortly.

MCI review

A team of Medical Council of India inspected facilities at the under-construction medical college building and reviewed preparedness of Balangir district headquarters hospital, which will serve as the medical college for the first three years.