The Daya West Canal in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 6: The state government has come up with a plan to reclaim the Daya West Canal, which has turned into a huge sewerage drain over the years.

The canal — stretching from Palasuni to Garage Chhak — was initially constructed for irrigational purposes. But, with all kind of waste being dumped into it, the canal has now become a breeding ground of mosquitoes in the area. The canal is also contaminating the ground water of the area.

However, the project for the improvement of the canal is expected to change the situation completely. The project envisages construction of drainage channels and one-way roads on both sides of the canal to free it from the sewage load.

Tenders for the Rs 33 crore project, which also includes laying of four-lane roads from Palasuni (NH-5) to Garage Chhak (NH-203), are likely to be floated within the next two weeks. The work is expected to be over in two years once the tender is finalised. The project would help de-siltation of the canal.

Officials of the Division IV of the roads and buildings department, who will execute the project, said the main canal, which is built with laterite stonewalls, will have a width of 8.2 metres. Two one-way roads will be constructed on both the sides of the canal with protective iron railings in the entire 7.8km stretch.

The canal and the roads would join NH-5 at Palasuni and NH-203 at Garage Chhak. The authorities have worked out a proper drainage plan with 1.5 metre drains to be constructed on both sides of the roads flanking the canal. The construction of drainage channels would prevent the entry of sewage into the irrigation canal, said executive engineer Chakradhar Prasad Gantayat of the roads and building department.

The project is also expected to help decongestion of traffic on the Cuttack-Puri Road (NH-203).

Officials, however, said that they expect trouble from encroachers while executing the project. At places, where laterite stone cannot be used, reinforced concrete would be used to strengthen the canal.

Sources said that due to financial constraints, it would not be possible to barricade the entire stretch of the canal with iron rails. They also added that no compensation would be paid to the encroachers.

Residents of the area alleged that neglect of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the water resources department has caused the canal, which was originally constructed for irrigational purposes, to turn into a sewerage drain and breeding ground of mosquitoes.

“The contaminated water from the defunct water channel is polluting the ground water in our areas. Apartment complexes and housing colonies are also discharging their waste into the canal,’’ said Pratap Jena, president of the Bhubaneswar district Congress committee.

“Renovation of a major channel like the Daya West Canal will result in a cleaner environment of the surroundings,” said municipal commissioner Vishal K. Dev.