Dirty silt on road creates problems for commuters at Medical Road near Mangalabag. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, April 29: The annual desiltation process has made life miserable for residents of the busy Medical Road near Mangalabag.

According to the residents, the annual desiltation drive was not being carried out in a planned manner. The dirty silt, left on the streets for days together, was posing a problem for commuters and residents in a number of localities.

“No doubt, desiltation of the drains is much needed at a time when most of the areas, including Mangalabag, face problems owing to waterlogging during monsoon. The concerned authorities should initiate steps to remove silt from the roads on the same day,” said Ajay Kumar Dey (55), a local resident. However, there is no sign of removing the excavated silt on the same day.

“There has always been a heavy rush of traffic on the Medical Road. Due to the desiltation operation in the area, there have been problems in the smooth flow of traffic as a major portion of the road is now covered with silt, which is also the case with other places in the city,” said Manoranjan Nayak (31), a commuter.

Desiltation of small drains on Medical Road began a few days back. Moreover, as the silt, which was left on the road, had not been removed, it was flowing back into the drain as it had rained twice in the last one week.

Local councillor Pavitra Bhuyan, however, said adequate steps were being taken to remove silt from the drains and the work was expected to be over soon.

“The annual desiltation operation has begun in the area since yesterday and soon the silt, left on the road, would be cleaned,” the councillor said.

The Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) carries out annual desiltation drive before the onset of rains. So far, the work has been limited towards removal of silt from small and minor surface drains in almost all wards in the city.

The two main and branch storm water channels are yet to be desilted and the civic officials have informed that work would be completed by May or June first week.

Cuttack, April 29: Due to callous attitude, the residents are now facing problems due to the annual desiltation process in a number of areas in the city. Moreover, the problems have assumed serious proportions at the medical road near Mangalabag which is one of the busiest roads in the city.

According to the residents, the annual desiltation operation is not being done in a planned manner. As a result, one can find the dirty silt left on the streets for days together creating problems for the commuters which has become a regular feature every year.

“No doubt, desiltation of the drains is much needed at a time when most of the areas including Mangalabag which faces problems due to waterlogging during monsoon. But the authorities should at least initiate steps to remove the silt from the road on the same day,” said Ajay Kumar Dey (55), local resident.

As no step is being taken to remove the silt excavated from the drains on the same day, it is causing a lot of problems for the commuters as well as the residents in a number of localities.

It can be mentioned that the Managalabag medical road, where the S.C.B medical college and hospital is located, is one the busiest roads in the city. Everyday hundreds of commuters depend on the road where a number of other medical institutions, government offices and other prominent schools and colleges are located.

“There is a heavy rush of traffic on the medical road. Due to the siltation operation in the area, there have been problems in the smooth flow of traffic as a major portion of the road is now covered with dirty silt which is also the case at other places in the city,” said Manoranjan Nayak (31), a commuter.

The work for desiltation of small drains at the medical road has begun in the last couple of days. Moreover, as the silt left on the road has not been removed yet, it is again falling into the drain as there city has witnessed rains twice in the past one week.

On the other hand, local councillor Pavitra Bhuyan has said that adequate steps are being taken towards removal of silt from the drains and the work is expected to be completed soon.

“The annual siltation operation has begun in the area from yesterday and soon the silt left on the road would be cleaned at the earliest,” the councillor added.

Meanwhile, the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) carries out the annual siltation operation which is usually completed before the onset of the monsoon. So far, the work has been limited towards removal of silt from small and minor surface drains in almost all the wards in the city.

The two main and branch storm water channels are yet to be desilted and the civic officials have informed that work would be completed by May or June first week.