Water logging and uncovered drains always top the wish list of Bhubaneswar residents during election times.
With the tragedy of the washing away of a Class X student in an open drain in Shatabdi Nagar under Ward no-51 last September still fresh in incident, the city residents wish the elected corporators and Mayor should address the issues.
A resident of Shatabdi Nagar is critical of the civic authorities for its failure to complete the construction of the drain. “Six months ago the mishap had occurred. But the drain construction work is still going on. In Bhubaneswar city, around 80 per cent drains are in pitiable condition” he added.
A senior citizen of capital city alleged that their lives have become living hell due to drainage problem. While the unbearable stench emanating from the drains is unbearable, those have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
“I have taken up the issues with the civic authorities on several occasions but to no avail,” he rued, adding that the contractor, or the Mayor, or a Minister, should take steps on priority basis to end the sufferings for good.
Realising it that the drainage problem has been a cause of resentment among city residents, the Mayor candidates are going to voters with the promises to end the problem.
“All the Wards under the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) have drainage problem. If I am voted to power, I will work on it on a priority basis,” said Congress’s Mayoral candidate Madhusmita Acharya.
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s choice for Mayor post, Suniti Mund, has also something similar to deliver after the election if she wins.
“The problem lies with our natural drains which have been chocked due to silts. We will resurrect them,” Mund said.
Sulochana Das, the Mayoral candidate fielded by the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) said, “Drain construction work is underway. The BMC has already identified 70 vulnerable spots in terms with water logging issues and construction work is going on in about 40 spots.”
“The government is well aware of the problem and taking steps to solve them. In the coming days, the drainage and sewage systems in Bhubaneswar will be the best amongst all,” Das said.