BeMC takes steps to tackle waterlogging

Berhampur: With the south-west monsoon expected to set in early this year, Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) has stepped up preparations to tackle waterlogging and other water-related issues in the city.BeMC mayor Sanghamitra Dalei and other officials have visited several vulnerable areas. She ordered the removal of encroachments from the drains and to speed up drain de-siltation works. On Sunday, she visited Jaya Prakash Nagar, an area that witnesses flooding every monsoon."We have undertaken the de-siltation works of the drains in different wards. The work is going on in full swing and is expected to be completed before the arrival of the monsoon," said Kalyani Sanghamitra, deputy commissioner (in-charge of sanitation) of the BeMC. She said they also coordinated with the National Highway and public works department (PWD) to clean the major drains in the city under their departments.Two major drains, Bahana nullah and Sapua nullah of the drainage division flow inside the city. While Sapua nullah does not pose a major problem, the 14-km long Bahana nullah in the city, however, created waterlogging in the low-lying areas during the rainy season."Ahead of the arrival of the monsoon, we undertook to clean the 14-km long drain in the city. The work is expected to be completed by June 15," said Bishnu Prasad Panigrahy, executive engineer, drainage division. Around Rs 12 lakh would be spent on de-siltation of Bahana nullah this year, he said.He said they decided to conduct a joint survey by BeMC soon to identify the vulnerable areas and take preventive measures to avert waterlogging. The city experienced pre-monsoon rains in the last three days. The civic body officials claimed there was no major problem witnessed in the city during the pre-monsoon showers.Besides cleaning the major drains, the BeMC needs to undertake an eviction drive from the drains, said Sandhyarani Sukla, corporator (ward no. 4). T. Kishore Kumar Patro, another corporator (ward no 6), urged the authorities to cover all the drains before the onset of the monsoon to avoid drowning incidents.