HC sets January 11 to review Cuttack’s box drain project

CUTTACK: The Orissa high court has fixed January 11, 2024, for taking stock of the progress of the Box Drain Plan under the ongoing Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded Odisha Integrated Sanitation Improvement Project (OISIP) in Cuttack city as part of adjudication on a public interest litigation (PIL).
The two-judge bench of acting Chief Justice BR Sarango and Justice MS Raman fixed the date after taking on record the report amicus curiae NK Mohanty submitted on December 20.
The report said nearly 77% of the box drain proposed to be constructed has already been completed till date and the rest is targeted to be completed by March 2024. The HC was hearing the PIL seeking intervention against delay in completion of the Box Drain.
The 3.5 km (3,500 metres) box drain under the state-of-the-art sewerage and drainage project was planned to facilitate communication over the main storm water channel (MSWC) — 1 from Buxi Bazar to Matrubhawan through Patapole. The box drain, once completed, is expected to ease traffic congestion, and prevent stench emanating from the open drain.
The amicus curiae in his report said Water Corporation of Odisha (WATCO) has now decided to construct 2,590 metres of box drain till Chatra Bazar and leave the rest 910 metres drain open from Chhatra Bazar to Matrubhawan as it is not practically possible to have the box drain on that stretch.
There are buildings standing on both sides of the drain and if the construction of the box drain is undertaken, these buildings will be damaged. WATCO, keeping this view, has planned to have just closed drains on this stretch, the amicus curiae’s report said.
Till date, 1,987 metres of the box drain has been completed. A further 603 metres have been targeted to be constructed by March 31, 2024, for completion of the box drain from Buxi Bazar to Chhatra Bazar, the amicus curiae’s report said.
Debasis Rout, a resident of Deula Sahi area of the city, filed the petition pointing out that starting 2021, the work on the box drain was initially targeted to be completed by December 2022.
The deadline was revised to July 2023 but is yet to be completed.