The Manav Adhikar Suraksha Manch (MASM) organised a meeting in the premises of the Jaganath Temple near Courtpeta here on Sunday to discuss issues of public importance. MASM coordinator advocate Abani Kumar Gaya presided over the meeting.
Gaya demanded immediate renovation of the Bahana Nala and halting of all passenger trains in industrial township area of Brahmapur. The Bahana Nala is the main drain with which most of the drains in the city are linked. However, this drain in spite of its gigantic size and depth, is broken at many places, packed with debris and solid wastes and fails to ensure free flow of drain water, causing serious inconvenience to the denizens, particularly during the rains.
During the last unprecedented twin natural disasters of Phailin and subsequent incessant floods, the Bahana Nala remained so ineffective that drain water entered almost all houses of the lower areas of the city, as a result of which the local residents had to use boats to cross the road and pass sleepless nights on their house roofs in hunger. The drain created flood in the areas like Gajapati Nagar, Neelachal Nagar and Basudev Nagar, pointed out Gaya.
Even though the public has been demanding renovation and reconstruction of this key drain since last several years, the demand has remained unheeded by the BMC authorities and the State Government, he alleged.
The Manch also demanded construction of a halting station near the industrial area, on which 26 villages of the Gopalpur Assembly constituency and a larger chunk of population under the BMC depend. The railway authorities have already made their survey and feasibility study since long, but the next step is not being taken, Gaya pointed out.
The Manch further alleged that it is the ineffective leadership and lack of willpower of the local elected representatives such as Gopalpur and Brahmapur MlAs and the MP who are responsible for the delay in fulfilling these two demands by the Government. If the demands are not met immediately, the Manch would intensify its agitation, Gaya cautioned.
Among others, Suryakanta Patra, advisor of Gajapatinagar Development Committee Rajendra Kumar Panda, Bansidhar Bhuyan, Hadibandhu Mali, former OSSTA leader Govind Das, social worker Dr AR Verma, Syamsundar Khadanga, Bibhuprasad Sahu, Brundaban Sabat, president of Passenger Halt Sangram Samiti Panchanan Choudhury, teacher leader Chittaranjan Panda, Gouri Mohanty, Bishnupriya Rana and scribe Prasant Das attended the meeting. While MASM general secretary Maguni Nahak delivered the welcome address, president Upendranath Mishra offered a vote of thanks.