Encroachment Over Sewerage Line Near ISKCON Temple Removed

Bhubaneswar: The enforcement squads of Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Odisha Water and Sewerage Board (OWSSB) removed an encroachment near IRC Square, where a landowner had illegally occupied three manholes of the sewerage network, on Wednesday.

Following the encroachment, the sewage was getting mixed with the discharge of nearby stormwater drain. The entire sewage of the IRC area was getting mixed with the rainwater near ISKCON area and was polluting the water, which was emerging out of the culvert below NH and was bifurcating into two drains through Behera Sahi and Bhoi Sahi, respectively, the sources said.

The waterlogging situation near ISKCON temple brought the issue to the fore and the eviction was planned after BMC Commissioner Krishan Kumar conducted a survey of the place on July 25.

According to the law, discharge of sewage into rainwater drain is a criminal offence, and obstruction of water and especially waste water is also punishable and calls for action under the Odisha Municipal Corporation Act, 2003.

“Once the encroachment was removed, the NHAI barricaded the area with concrete slabs. The Odisha Water Supply and Sewerage Board in association with PHEO will repair the defunct sewerage line,” said BDA Additional Commissioner-cum-Member Enforcement Bhabani Shankar Chayani, who led the drive.

The OWSSB has been instructed to inspect all the households and establishments, including Presidency Hotel, ISKCON temple, Krishna Plaza from IRC Square to ID Market, and disconnect the illegal sewage connection falling into the stormwater drain, the sources added.

During another early morning eviction drive, which started near ITER Engineering College under Sikshya O Anusandhan University (SOA) in Ward No. 64 along the natural Drainage Channel No. 9, ended with removal of 176 feet long boundary wall of the engineering college that had encroached on the path of the drainage channel.

BMC Zonal Deputy Commissioner (South-West) Deeptirani Sahu led the operation, which started around 8.30 am and continued till 12 noon. Two squads of BDA and one of BMC were engaged with an excavator to execute the enforcement drive.