Residents of Stewartpatna Tanla Sahi in Cuttack face a lot of problems due to waterlogging. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, May 10: Residents of Stewartpatna Tanla Sahi in ward No.6 of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) have been experiencing a harrowing time owing to waterlogging in the area.

Due to the absence of proper drainage channels, the locality is now waterlogged. According to the residents, this has been the situation here for the past two months and the recent spell of rain in the city has made matters worse.

“We are locked inside our homes as there is no way to drain out rain water from the locality. Despite several complaints, no step has been taken to solve the problem,” said Rasananada Pradhan (32), a local resident.

Nearly 200 families at Tanla Sahi colony, which was established by the then chief minister of Orissa, Nandini Satapathy, in 1975, have been facing problems of waterlogging for a lonh time now.

According to local residents, the problem occurs mainly due to the non-existence of a drainage channel and the way a local road has been constructed.

“We are unable to move out of our homes as no step is being taken to drain out rainwater. Stagnant water has led to the rise in mosquitoes and other health hazards,” said Prashant Pradhan (35), another local resident.

Pradhan said the construction of a road that runs near the locality was recently completed.

But it was not extended till Tanla Sahi and this created an artificial slope.

Moreover, due to the absence of a proper drainage channel, many houses in the locality are now waterlogged. Besides this, no step was being taken to maintain all-round sanitation in the locality, several residents alleged.

Local councillor Lilabati Behera of ward No.6 said that adequate steps were being taken to maintain sanitation in the entire ward.

“Appropriate steps are being taken to solve the grievances of the residents of Tanla Sahi area. Moreover, tender process for the construction of road and drain at an estimated cost of Rs 5.66lakh has been completed and the work is expected to begin in a couple of days,” said Behera.

“Besides this, efforts are also on to renovate the community hall at Tanla Sahi and all possible steps would be taken to solve the grievances of the residents. Things are likely to improve after the introduction of mechanised sweeping in the city,” Behera added.