Cuttack, Aug. 25: Construction of a major drain to prevent pollution of Taladanda canal at Chauliaganj is moving at a snail’s pace.

The Odisha State Sewerage Board (OSSB) had begun the construction soon after illegal encroachments were cleared by the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) last year.

Official sources said that so far, only 800 metres of the 1,250-metre drain had been built due to delay in allotment of another 300 metres of land that has been leased out to a school.

“We are yet to get the remaining portion of land required for the construction of the drain. We have already asked the municipal corporation to complete the formalities to hand it over,” said OSSB engineer Pramod Sahu.

Sahu said most of the work to build the drain had been completed, including a pumping station.

The wastewater from nearly seven sub-drains at Chauliaganj will be channelled through the main drain to prevent direct discharge into the Taladanda canal.

“A collecting well has also been built. Wastewater will be released into the main storm water channel No. 1 through the pumping station,” Sahu said. Work on the drain had begun after the high court had passed an order on a PIL seeking prevention of the pollution of Taladanda canal water by release of wastewater from various drains.

At present, wastewater from seven parallel drains is discharged into Taladanda canal. Several people, who depend on the canal for water, have been opposing this.

“We welcome the construction of the drain. It is essential to check discharge of wastewater into the Taladanda canal. However, we think that the drain might not serve its purpose as it is too narrow,” said Sudarshan Jena, a local resident.

Earlier, the municipal corporation had carried out an eviction drive and razed two small temples, a toilet, a platform, two houses, a building, a club house and three boundary walls that had come up on the government land.

The squatters were evicted to facilitate the construction of the drain in April last year.

“We have already written to the officials of the district administration to take appropriate steps to hand over possession of the land that has been leased out to a girl’s school. However, we are yet to receive any official communication,” said corporation secretary Laxmidhar Nath.