Bhadrak: Monsoon is approaching, and when it hits Bhadrak town it will flood the town with drain water. Even a minor rain will create a flood-like situation in this area, as there is no way for water to drain out.
The storm water drainage system of the town has completely failed due to the lack of foresight of concerned officials.
The construction of the drain from Nehru Stadium – the entrance of Bhadrak town – till the LIC office near Banta Square, is lying half done for six years.
The celebration of Independence Day at the Nehru Stadium has been stopped due to this. As the stadium gets flooded even after a minor rain, Independence Day celebrations are now conducted at the Bhadrak College Grounds.
The construction of the 294 meter drain (HLC-3) which stretches from the first gate of the stadium to the LIC office near Banta Square, has already dragged on for six years.
Reacting to this, the in-charge of Nehru Stadium, Suvendu Ray Mohapatra said, “As the monsoon is believed to arrive by June 15 water logging in and around the stadium is a certainty.”
Water logging at the stadium continues for nearly five months and sportspersons are unable to practice there. Moreover, the contractor concerned has already taken about Rs 50 lakh for the job.
The drain is supposed to connect the Salandi River starting from Dagamunda, touch Circuit House and LIC Office Square, pass through Kutcheri and go up to the Women’s College in Bhadrak town.
It is estimated that the length of the drain will be nearly three km, and is expected to cost Rs 5.2 crore. However, the Drainage Department of Bhadrak is not monitoring work on the drain properly.
This is not the only drain unfinished. The work order for many other drains were given to contractors and none of them have been completed. In many places the drains are not covered with concrete slabs.
The Bhadrak Town Senior Citizens’ Forum had filed a written complaint in 2018 to the Collector, Revenue Divisional Commissioner, Works Department, Municipality and the police regarding this. There was no response to their complaint, and the administration is silent over the issue.