By Express News Service
BHUBANESWAR: After drawing flak from different quarters over city’s defunct drainage system and water-logging menace, a red-faced Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) on Friday took some tough decisions. It denied plan approval to several structures, including a commercial complex in Rudrapur mouza and the new Accounts General (AG) building at Unit-V citing drainage and other issues. The Development Plan and Building Plan (DPBP) Committee of the BDA has denied permission for construction of commercial complex in Rudrapur asking them to comply with proper drainage plan for the proposed structure, a BDA official said.
Also Read: Drainage first, Construction Later :BDA
It is the first case of denying building plan to a project, following the strict approval mechanism to be followed by the planning wings of BDA and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), in order to contain water-logging and urban flooding within the Capital limits, the official said. The three-storey commercial structures of Kesab Madhab Infrastructure Private Limited in Rudrapur was proposed to be developed in an area of 1.030 acres with a total built up area of 10,191.24 square metres.
Officials said the DPBP Committee has also denied approval to a building plan proposal from Accounts General Audit Office to build a stilt plus six multi-storey office building over a revenue plot in Unit-V under Keshari Nagar Mouza as the said plot comes under Open Space Use Zone. They said during a field visit to Gouri Nagar Lane-1, the team of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) decided to issue stop construction notice to the developer of a duplex apartment complex, as it was blocking storm water of the nearby areas. The notice would be effective till the drainage problem is solved, permanently, they said. “In the wake of severe waterlogging in many low-lying areas including the ecologically sensitive zones (ESZ), BDA has come forward with a proposal to stop development activities in the areas if the project lacks proper drainage system in place,” the BDA said.
Grievance redressal, field visits cell formed
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation on Friday formed a ‘Grievance redressal and field visits cell’ to ensure smooth functioning of ‘Bhubaneswar One Helpline’. The cell will monitor and coordinate redressal of all grievances received through ‘Bhubaneswar One’ helpline and be responsible for coordinating all matters related to field visits and inspections being taken up by nodal officers to 13 different sub-zones under BMC area.
During the field visit, between 7 am to 9 am on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, BMC-BDA officials have been asked to zero in on every encroachment over drains and drainage channels and take immediate action under the provisions of Odisha Municipal Corporation Act, 2003, BMC Deputy Commissioner Srimanta Mishra said.
