Encroachment and dumping of waste is choking the life out of natural drainage channels. A lackadaisical approach by civic authorities and citizens is ruining the utility of these natural drains. What are government agencies doing and who is to blame for the sorry state of affairs? In this concluding part,THE TELEGRAPH takes a look into the issue
Measures taken
Drainage division, Cuttack, had prepared an estimation plan for the renovation of drainage channel No. 6, but the plan needs another round of estimation. For other drainage channels, renovation will start once Phase-I (drains 1 to 4) is over. While the state government is readying plans to revive clogged natural drainage channels, directorate of physical plants under Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) has gone ahead and begun work to de-clog part of the 4.33-km channel No. 8 at an estimated cost of Rs 4 crore. The OUAT has undertaken renovation of the channel up to 1.28 km. The BDA will undertake renovation of channel No. 9. Channel No. 10 falls in an area where the BDA is to create a 28-acre lake at the centre of the city. The BDA will soon have a revival plan for this channel too
 |
Drainage channel No. 6
This natural drainage channel starts from Unit II Government quarters and enters Ashok Nagar after which it crosses the railway track near Bhubaneswar railway station, Buddha Nagar and Cuttack Road. It then enters Chintamaniswar and Badagada. The channel travels 2.61km to meet Gangua nullah. Waste from hotels, guesthouses and restaurants starts getting dumped in the channel right from Ashok Nagar. The channel passes through a twin-pipeline under the main road in Chintamaniswar area, but the pipeline is choked by solid waste. Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) role is vital in keeping this stretch clog-free. When it flows below Daya West Canal, clogging is compounded by polythene waste.
 |
Drainage channel No. 7
The channel starts from Bhimpur mouza near Biju Patnaik Airport and meets Gangua nullah near Nuagaon on the city outskirts. During its 4.33km journey, it faces encroachment and neglect. A kilometre downstream behind Sishu Bhavan, a new housing colony, has squeezed the width of the natural drain to just seven feet, while the master plan shows it to be 7.6 metre wide. The channel bed is jammed with solid waste. Encroachment is also a major problem from Garage Square near Kedar Gouri Apartment Complex
 |
Drainage channel No. 8
This natural drain starts from behind Baramunda bus stand. Water flows into it from Bharatpur Reserve Forest. The channel goes up to Pokhariput and meets natural drainage channel No. 9 (which flows from Ainginia to Gangua nullah) covering 4.33 km. The channel faces problems such as dumping of solid waste and animal body parts. Encroachment is also a problem near Bhaktamadhu Nagar housing colony.
 |
Drainage channel No. 9
Till the late 90s, this channel was a major source with potential to supply water to the sugarcane fields of Dumduma village. With time the channel has died an unnatural death. With a length of 4.24km from Ghatikia to Gangua nullah, the channel is plagued by encroachment, siltation and dumping of solid waste. With several multi-storeyed housing projects coming up near its course, the 14.3 metre-wide drainage channel shown in the comprehensive development plan (CDP) of the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) is narrowing down at an alarming rate
 |
Drainage channel No. 10
The 5.48-km natural drainage channel originates from a small lake in Nayapalli (Ward No. 25) and meets Gangua nullah after passing below Daya West Canal in Laxmisagar. Encroachment starts right from the beginning. Even after it meanders out of City Centre and Janpath, the channel battles encroachment. A document prepared by the water resources department says due to encroachment within 200-metre length of the drainage path near Daya West Canal coupled with the after effects of a heavy rainfall in 2001, the channel forced a breach on the right bank of the canal and now all the water flows into the canal
Text: Bibhuti Barik, Pictures: Ashwinee Pati