Bhubaneswar: Plans are afoot to maintain the width of the natural drainage channel No-10, which originates from Nayapalli Haza and carries rainwater from Nayapalli and its catchment nearby till Bidyut Marg.
According to official sources, a joint action team of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) would depute inquiry squads and remove the encroachments, shrinking the channel’s width.
After a field visit to Nayapalli and ISKCON Temple area on Wednesday, BMC Commissioner-cum-Vice-Chairman BDA Dr Krishan Kumar directed BMC-BDA officials to adopt ‘Zero Tolerance Policy’ for the drainage channel.
The entire rainwater from the zone falls into this drain and is carried to Gangua Nullah, on the outskirts of the city.
To maintain the width of 12 metre throughout the length of the drainage channel up to ‘The World’ shopping mall, all government land will be freed of encroachments and ‘Stop Construction’ notices would be issued to violators. No construction activity would be permitted till the entire width of 12 metres for the drainage channel is identified, the sources further said.
Kumar has also asked the Drainage Division of BMC to prepare a master plan for constructing drain network from Krishna Tower to Mumtaz Ali High School, extending till Nayapalli Haza area, to allow smooth flow of water from Behera Sahi Chhak-Mumtaz Ali High School till Nayapalli Haza.
The BMC will also ready a detailed plan for urgent repair and widening of the existing drains in and around Nayapalli Haza and connecting the missing links for better discharge of the rainwater.
After a feasibility study, three drains – Bhoi Sahi Chakk to Mumtaz Ali High School, Behera Sahi Chhak to Nayapalli Haza and from turning point of Balunkeshwar temple to Nayapalli Haza – would be constructed.
The BMC Drainage Division will prepare a comprehensive plan for development of Nayapalli Haza. This would include floating wetlands, constructed wetlands, sedimentation tanks and water bubbling/aerators. This would improve the water quality before it is discharged into the channel, the sources added.
