Bhubaneswar BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi has written to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urging him to formulate a comprehensive master plan for addressing the longstanding waterlogging and drainage problem in the city during the rainy season.
She mentioned in the letter that the issue had been discussed by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Urban Development during its recent visit here on January 17 and 18. During the discussions, it came to the fore that a plan prepared by Meinhardt, Singapore in 2008 partly addresses the requirement, but it lacks in terms of detailing and is inadequate as it does not factor in a lot of essential requirements, including land acquisition costs.
While this plan proposed construction of natural drains in two phases, the need for construction of all internal drains and making them part of an overall plan for effective discharge of storm water has not been fully considered. It has also come to the notice of the Parliamentary Standing Committee that construction of 13 (3 additional) natural drains would require land acquisition and freeing of Government land from encroachments. This has not been considered while preparing the Detailed Project Report in 2008, Sarangi wrote and enclosed a list of existing natural storm water drains in Bhubaneswar and 37 vulnerable locations as identified by the BMC for the CM’s perusal.
In view of the impending rainy season, she urged Patnaik to issue appropriate instructions to the relevant authorities for (a) gainful utilisation of Rs 110 crore and ensuring that drainage work is undertaken keeping in view the requirements of 37 vulnerable points and not spending by just distributing it ward wise, and (b) a systematic and sustainable approach towards de-silting of drains and preparation of a comprehensive master plan by taking into consideration all natural and internal drains and an overall cost implication thereof.
