Rourkela: The civic body has begun cleaning drains to avoid waterlogging, especially in the low-lying areas of the city.

"We are going on war footing moment and hope that the drain-cleaning job will be over before the monsoon," said Rourkela Municipal Corporation executive engineer Ashok Parida. Stating that following the recent inundation, the corporation became clearer about the exact problem areas. He said: "Now, we know where to pinpoint our focus, and we are doing that at this moment."

Rourkela has 40 wards. Barring planned residential areas such as Chhend, Koelnagar, Basanti Colony, Civil Township, the city has a mix of residential areas and slums. However, no area is safe when it rains excessively. "Koelnagar, where I stay, also witnesses flooding when there is excess rain," said local resident Pradeep Mohanty.

The last rain left many areas of Chhend and the low-lying areas of Basanti Colony, Birajapalli, Machli Bazar, New Bus Stand and Timber Colony waterlogged.

"We have engaged over 200 workers to clean the main channel, and this is being done both manually and mechanically," informed Parida.

All the activities are part of the annual cleaning drive. "We think that by the next 15 days, all drains will be cleaned," he said.

However, the cleaning job gets badly hampered in the low-lying areas and slums. "At Machli Bazar, we have to clean a 6-ft-deep drain, where no vehicle can reach as the approach roads are as thin as 2 feet," he said.

He admitted that the ongoing underground sewerage work was creating problem. "The soil excavated to lay the pipes got into the drains and jammed them at Chhend, resulting in waterlogging," he said.