Waterlogging woes return to Silk City

Berhampur: The first monsoon showers not only brought relief from the scorching heat in the Silk City on Monday but also caused waterlogging and traffic jams on some busy roads.
Waterlogging was witnessed in Aska Road, Niladri Bihar, Gandhi Nagar, Gajapati Nagar and Prem Nagar areas, with pedestrians having a harrowing time. Commuters, moving in two-wheelers, were left with no choice but to take shelter in roadside buildings as their vehicles got stuck.
“Before the onset of monsoon, we had urged the authorities of Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) for smooth flow of rainwater. But our area was waterlogged for some hours after the showers due to overflowing drains,” said Laxmi Narayan Patra, a resident of Niladri Bihar.
Residents of Prem Nagar also complained of a similar situation. “Roads and drains of our area, whose construction was started about four years ago, are still to be completed. Residents are facing much difficulty in movement in the rainy season, which started from the first monsoon shower,” said Biren Patnaik, a former BeMC corporator.
Waterlogging in some areas due to overflowing drains has exposed the failure of BeMC to tackle the monsoon problems, opposition leaders said.
Berhampur mayor Sanghamitra Dalai said the civic body cleaned all major drains before the onset of monsoon. “Cleaning of the roadside drains is a regular affair by the sanitary workers and this will be continued for free flow of rainwater. Rainwater flowed normally and there was no waterlogging for a long time in any area,” she said.
Berhampur: The first monsoon showers not only brought relief from the scorching heat in the Silk City on Monday but also caused waterlogging and traffic jams on some busy roads.
Waterlogging was witnessed in Aska Road, Niladri Bihar, Gandhi Nagar, Gajapati Nagar and Prem Nagar areas, with pedestrians having a harrowing time. Commuters, moving in two-wheelers, were left with no choice but to take shelter in roadside buildings as their vehicles got stuck.
“Before the onset of monsoon, we had urged the authorities of Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) for smooth flow of rainwater. But our area was waterlogged for some hours after the showers due to overflowing drains,” said Laxmi Narayan Patra, a resident of Niladri Bihar.
Residents of Prem Nagar also complained of a similar situation. “Roads and drains of our area, whose construction was started about four years ago, are still to be completed. Residents are facing much difficulty in movement in the rainy season, which started from the first monsoon shower,” said Biren Patnaik, a former BeMC corporator.
Waterlogging in some areas due to overflowing drains has exposed the failure of BeMC to tackle the monsoon problems, opposition leaders said.
Berhampur mayor Sanghamitra Dalai said the civic body cleaned all major drains before the onset of monsoon. “Cleaning of the roadside drains is a regular affair by the sanitary workers and this will be continued for free flow of rainwater. Rainwater flowed normally and there was no waterlogging for a long time in any area,” she said.