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Stagnant drain water adds to residents’ woes

HEALTH HAZARD: A view of the lake of drain water at Behera Sahi.

BHUBANESWAR: Some 3,000 people residing in Behera Sahi, barely 1 km from the State Assembly here, now prefer not to open their doors and windows unless there is any urgency. Neither they are afraid of any anti-social elements nor do they love to stay indoors.

A lake of drain water, which has been gradually swelling, has made their lives miserable. The crisis is man-made. Sources say some miscreants blocked a natural drain.

As a result, over 10 acres of land is now filled with stinking drain water.

“Those who have blocked the natural drain are unapproachable. Above 3,000 residents surrounding the stagnant drain water body find it difficult to cope up with the situation,” Namita Sahoo, councillor of Ward-17, says.

The councillor says she has reported this to authorities of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), but no action has so far been taken.

“ Mosquitoes and other insects have thrived on the huge deposits of drain waters. Although the area is in the heart of the city, no action has yet been taken ,” says Bainshidhar Prusty, a resident. Most of the dwellers in the area use groundwater from an open well. Owing to non-release of drain water, it is now apprehended that it will affect drinking water supply at any time.

Sources say some of the miscreants from Gada Sahi area demanded extortion money from a real estate developer who is planning to build an apartment on the land there. When the developer refuses to bow down before the miscreants, they blocked the drain water channel and turned the vast area inhospitable.

The particular patch of land where drain water is halted seems to be a no-man’s land. It is common boundary of Ward No. 16 and 17. When contacted, BMC Commissioner Aparajita Sarangi says she is not aware of such problem.

“I will surely verify it and do the needful. If drain water is blocked unlawfully, we will facilitate release of waste water,” says Ms. Sarangi.

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