Jagdish Tytler at the Jagannath temple during his recent visit to Puri. Picture by Sarat Patra

Bhubaneswar, March 28: The biggest area under Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) — ward No. 1 — is facing a host of problems such as poor drainage, bad roads and shortage of drinking water. The area included an IT park, a special economic zone, a university and several posh housing colonies besides the mandatory slums.

Sources said pipe water supply is still a distant dream for the residents of many of these colonies who depend on bore wells. The absence of a reliable drainage and sewerage system has further compounded the problems of the people.

Councillor Manoranjan Behera, said: “The biggest area under the civic body is neglected in many ways. There are 29 housing colonies, 62 apartment complexes and 10 slum clusters. But the area suffers mostly in terms of sanitation, as the drainage system is completely unreliable. While in some areas drainage system is only partially developed, in others the drains have become victims of bad maintenance. The existing drains have turned into breeding ground of mosquitoes.”

While Patia Industrial Estate is a part of the ward, Sikharchandi slum and Munda sahi are among the major slums falling within its territory. Apart from this, Chandaka industrial area, Maruti Vihar, and Sailashree Vihar Phase – 7 also fall in the ward, which has a population of more than 60,000.

Behera said many housing colonies such as Sashwat Vihar, Arya Vihar, Bajarang Vihar, Ganapati Vihar and Prashanti Vihar still lack proper approach roads.

“The development has been so fast in the area that people did not have time to bother about issues of connectivity and civic amenities. Many roads are yet to be completed by the BMC. Some apartment blocks also lack approach roads. One wonders how the builders managed to get permission from the planning section of the Bhubaneswar Development Authority,” Behera added.

A local resident Laxman Patra said as the drainage and sewerage systems are yet to be developed in areas such as Bajrang Vihar, Ganapati Nagar and Sishuvihar, people suffer a lot during the rain. Things become worse due to the absence of proper roads in the colonies.

A businessman from the Damana Square area and resident of Sashwat Vihar, said: “Encroachment in the colony has virtually stopped development of the internal roads. The civic authorities should take steps to remove encroachment.” “The drinking water problem has assumed huge proportions in slum pockets such as Sikharchandi, Chirigalatala and Durga Mandap. The civic authorities have to take urgent steps to eradicate the problem as it will become worse in summer,” said Behera.The junior engineer of the area has started cleaning and repairing work of the existing drains.

“The major drains will be constructed when the roads will be built with the area development fund meant for the councillor,” added Behera.

A senior BMC officer said the tender process is already on for the development work that includes constructing roads and drains.

Regarding pipe water supply to the dry pockets, he added that the issue would be taken up in consultation with the public health engineering organisation.