Residents wade through waist-deep water at Housing Board Colony in Sambalpur. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur, Aug. 7: Inundation of the city last week has led the irrigation department to revamp the Dhobijor Nullah, which is a major drain of the city. Lack of proper desiltation and maintenance had led to flood-like situation in the city.

Residents of the city also say that choked drains led to the recent waterlogging.

The Dhobijor Nullah flows through Beheramunda, Danipali, Cheruapara, Housing Board Colony, Modipara, Golebazar, Hirakud Colony and finally joins river Mahanadi at Binakhandi of the city.

The drain was bifurcated at Tamlapara after the flood in the Mahanadi in 1982. The new stretch also flowed into the Mahanadi at Balibandha.

“The flood like situation, which occurred on August 3, was completely man-made. The Tengna Nullah and the Dhobijor Nullah carry the sewerage of Sambalpur. However, the size of both the nullahs have shrunk because of encroachment on both sides. Due to encroachments, rainwater did not find passage to move ahead. Moreover, silt and weeds have further choked the two nullahs. The authorities do not bother to take care of nullah,” said a local resident, Jagyan Narayana Pradhan.

“Had the water found passage, waterlogging would not have occurred when rain lashed the city,” he said.

Dhobijor Nullah in Sambalpur. Telegraph picture

Several areas, which never get affected during rain, also experienced a flood-like situation after the heavy downpour.

In 2011, the irrigation department had submitted a project proposal of Rs 11.5crore to the state government for renovation of the Dhobijor Nullah. However, nothing has happened since then. The department had proposed to convert the bridges on the Dhobijor Nullah into structures without piers. Moreover, raising the height of the bridge at HLO Colony was also part of the proposal. The project was estimated at Rs 11.50 crore. However, the proposal had failed to get the government’s nod.

The irrigation department is now planning to submit another proposal with a revised estimate. Executive engineer of the irrigation department Prabhas Patnaik said: “The proposal will be submitted to the government again. However, the estimate will be revised.”