Odishatv Bureau

Nilagiri/Udala: Residents of Nilagiri in Balasore district and Udala in Mayurbhanj district have to live with overflowing drains and flooded roads. Due to lack of proper care and poor sanitation drains have been choked with garbage.

The water is stagnated for weeks and has been emitting foul smell and breeding mosquitoes. There has been no proper flow of drain water through drain pipes due to lack of maintenance and repairs. People of the locality complained that they suffer from mosquito-borne diseases frequently.

Drains are clogged by trash, but authorities are shifting responsibilities instead of desilting them, said Ajay Parichha, a local resident.

Another resident Karunakar Mohanty said, "Choked drains are resulting into water overflow near my shop and the public road causing inconvenience."

Manoj Moharana, another local resident, stated foul smell is emanating from the open drains. Apart from this, poor drainage system has become breeding ground for mosquitoes and flies," he added.

On the other hand, Nilagiri sub-collector Aboli Sunil Naraene said the drains will be cleaned on a war-footing before the onset of rainy season.

"Efforts are on to clean up the garbage and desilting of drains. I would also request people of Nilagiri not to dump trash in drains," she added.

Similar scene can be seen in the Udala NAC area of Mayurbhanj district. In almost every ward, drains have been choked and water overflowing on roads after a brief spell of rain. Question is being raised over proper execution of the Swachh Bharat Mission under which crores of rupees are being spent for cleanliness and sanitation drive.

Laxmidhara Nayak, a local resident, stated, "Outlet system of drains is not working because of which water gets stuck. If this is the condition in usual days, what it would be like during rainy days."

However, Soubhagya Sahu, chairman, Udala NAC feigned ignorance of drainage issue in the locality. He said, "Efforts on to channelise drain water into a nearby river. I have also asked the Rural Development department and the Public Works department to take necessary steps to keep drainage system proper," Sahu stated.

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