A motorcyclist rides through an inundated road at Baul Vihar in Kendrapara town. Telegraph picture

Kendrapara, June 21: In the absence of a proper sewerage and drainage network, frequent waterlogging of residential colonies has become the order of the day in this district headquarters.

The latest bouts of depression-induced spell of rain have thoroughly exposed the gross absence of urban planning mechanism in Kendrapara district headquarters township.

“Kendrapara Municipality has 21 urban wards. Besides, areas on the periphery of the municipality are also witnessing massive upsurge in construction activities. As a result, a number of residential colonies have come up on the outskirts of the township in recent past. Though the growth in urban settlements has been mostly impressive, it has become unsystematic and haphazard, bringing in its wake multiple problems,” said Balabhadra Patri, a former executive officer of Kendrapara Municipality.

“The problem of waterlogging is most acute as there is almost total absence of sewerage and drainage discharge networks in large areas of the township,” said Bijoy Kumar Das, a local resident.

New residential colonies, such as the one at Baul Vihar on the outskirts of the town, is a classic case of the way things have gone wrong so far as providing of civic amenities are concerned in this area.

“Water gets accumulated even during slight drizzles. The colony gets inundated as there is no discharge point for release of rainwater. The residents have been contending with this problem for years as authorities have turned a blind eye to their plight,” Bhabani Shankar Ojha, a zilla parishad member.

The colony, though located in a posh area, badly suffers from lack of civic amenities.

The situation elsewhere in the town also largely remains the same. Waterlogging has been a persistent problem for the residents of many areas here.

“Though the urban wards within the municipality’s jurisdiction have limited presence of sewerage drains, these are wallowing in neglect due to lack of maintenance. The drains are not cleaned up in regular intervals. As a result, the choked drains are paving way for frequent waterlogging,” said Mohammad Akbar Ali, former chairman, Kendrapara Municipality.