A stretch along the Taladanda canal is occupied by squatters who have been allegedly delaying the implementation of a project to prevent water pollution. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Aug. 16: Orissa High Court has set a deadline of one month for the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) to clear encroachments along the Taladanda canal.

The encroachments had allegedly delayed the implementation of a project for preventing the pollution of water in the canal nearly a year.

Moreover, the court has directed the civic body to make the land along the banks of the canal available to the Orissa Water Supply and Sewerage Board (OWSSB) to start its work on the Rs 441.27 lakh project.

The Taladanda canal, which meanders through the city, starts at Jobra in the city and links the Mahanadi river with the Bay of Bengal at Paradip 83 km away.

The deadline was set by the high court while hearing the PIL on the alleged pollution of the canal by untreated sewage along with the biomedical wastes generated in the city.

The city-based socio-cultural organisation Maitree Sansad had filed the PIL.

“Expressing concern over the delay in implementation of the project, due to encroachments, the two-judge bench of Chief Justice V. Gopalgowda and Justice Indrajeet Mohanty on last Friday directed the CMC to take immediate measures to remove the squatters before September 17,” Maitree Sansad counsel Ajay Mohanty told The Telegraph today.

“The high court has further made it clear that if required the CMC can take help of the collector and deputy commissioner of police,” Mohanty said.

The OWSSB was asked to execute the project, on behalf of the CMC, to prevent pollution of the canal. The project envisaged interception and diversion of works involving commissioning of sewage pumping station with wet well and masonry drains at Jobra and Chauliaganj area.

The canal was reported to be getting polluted by 12 outfalls.

“However, the OWSSB had expressed inability to proceed with the project due to the encroachments in the stretch which fell under the jurisdiction of the project area at Jobra and Chauliaganj,” the Maitree Sansad counsel said.

In March 2009, the high court, acting on the PIL, constituted a high-level committee for a field study on the alleged pollution of the canal. The committee was consisted of members such as the health secretary, the urban development secretary, the Cuttack collector and the Cuttack municipal corporation’s mayor and commissioner.

The panel members assessed that there were at least 17 outfalls at Jobra and Chauliaganj area of the city through which untreated water and sewage were finding their way into the Taladanda.

In August, 2009, the high court had directed the CMC to make the land available to the OWSSB for the commencement of the work.

OWSSB member secretary D.K. Padhi had, in an affidavit, pointed out that the encroachments in the form of permanent structures were obstructing the progress of work and the CMC should at first ensure the total area encroachment-free instead of proceeding in a sporadic manner.

The CMC had so far passed on Rs 71 lakh to the OWSSB for the execution of the project.

The flow of untreated water and sewage into the canal had been checked in five from among the 17 outfalls.

Cuttack, Aug. 16: The Orissa High Court has set a deadline of one month for the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) to clear encroachments along Taladanda, which had delayed by nearly a year implementation of project for preventing pollution of water in the canal.

Also, the court has directed the civic body to make the land along the banks of the canal available to the Orissa Water Supply and Sewerage Board (OWSSB) to start work on the Rs 441.27 lakh project.

The Taladanda canal which meanders through the city for nearly four kms starts at Jobra (Cuttack) and links the Mahanadi River with the Bay of Bengal at Paradip 83 kms away.

The deadline was set by the High Court while hearing the PIL on alleged pollution of the canal by untreated sewage along with biomedical wastes generated in the city. City-based socio-cultural organisation Maitree Sansad had filed the PIL.

“Expressing concern over the delay in implementation of the project due to encroachments on Friday last week the two judge bench of Chief Justice V.Gopalgowda and Justice Indrajeet Mohanty directed the CMC to take steps to remove them before September 17.”, Maitree Sansad counsel Ajay Mohanty told The Telegraph today.

“The High Court has further made it clear that if required the CMC can take help of the Collector and Deputy Commissioner of Police “, Mohanty said.

The OWSSB was asked to execute the project to prevent the pollution of the canal on behalf of CMC. The project envisaged interception and diversion works involving commissioning of sewage pumping station with wet well and masonry drains at Jobra and Chauliaganj area for preventing pollution of water in Taladanda canal caused by 12 outfalls.

“But the OWSSB had expressed inability to proceed with the project due to presence of encroachments, in certain stretches of the project area in Jobra and Chauliaganj, which is affecting execution of the work”, the Maitree Sansad counsel said.

In March 2009 the High Court acting on the PIL had constituted a high-level committee for a field study on the alleged pollution of the canal.

The Committee which among others had as members the secretary health, secretary urban development, Cuttack Collector, and Cuttack Municipal Corporation’s Mayor and Commissioner assessed that there were at least 17 outfalls in Jobra and Chauliaganj area of the city through which untreated water and sewage were finding their way into the Taladanda.

In August, 2009 the High Court had directed the CMC to make the land available to OWSSB for commencing the work.

OWSSB member secretary D.K.Padhi had in an affidavit pointed out that encroachments in the form of permanent structures are adversely obstructing the progress of work and the CMC should ensure the total area encroachment free instead of proceeding in a sporadic manner.

CMC had so far passed on to the OWSSB Rs 71 lakh for execution of the project.The flow of untreated water and sewage into the canal had been checked in five from among the 17 outfalls by diversion to city’s main storm water channel (drain).