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Cleaning of drains: CPI (M) leader disputes civic body’s claim

CUTTACK: In 2004, the State vigilance sleuths booked 11 officials of the Cuttack Municipal Commission (CMC) on the charges of misappropriation, forgery and cheating for squandering Rs. 33 lakh on desilting and cleaning of city drains. Six of the officials, including the former chief executive of the CMC, were sent to jail following an order from the High Court.

Similarly, during last monsoon, the CMC also came under severe flak from the High Court after the Millennium city came under deluge when more than 80 per cent of the area remained under knee-deep water for over a week. The situation is not going to improve in the ensuing monsoon either.

It is alleged that although, the civic body now claims that its had spent nearly Rs. 50 lakh for cleaning and desilting of the drains in April and May this year, drains in over 70 per cent of the city are still choked.

“The people of Cuttack would face the worst monsoon deluge in the coming year because of slipshod attitude of the civic body officials,” alleged city CPI (M) secretary Subash Singh.

Speaking to newsmen here recently, Mr. Singh alleged that while the 25-km-long main drain of the city was not cleaned yet, the desilting in the branch storm channel and surface drains was done in a very ‘careless’ manner. He said the claim made by the civic body officials that Rs. 50 lakh was spent on the purpose was “nothing but a blatant lie.”

While in most of the areas no or very little work was done and wherever the work was undertaken they were not properly monitored or systematically completed. Mr. Singh also disputed over the length of the drains cleaned as claimed by the CMC.

He expressed surprise saying how such a huge amount was spent when desilting work was carried out in the city for only a few days. “It was not only incredible but also seems very impossible,” Mr. Singh said demanding a vigilance probe into the matter again.

When contacted, city mayor Nibedita Pradhan refuted the allegations made by the CPI (M) leader. She said the advocate committee appointed by the High Court was now constantly overseeing the desilting work of the drains. “We are hopeful of desilting and cleaning of all the drains by May 30,” she said.

She said that the civic body was now fully prepared to meet any exigencies during the monsoon.

“We have cleaned all the culverts and all the pumps of the CMC are now repaired. The pumps will be put to test on May 25,” she said.

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