The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), which took up renovation work of 14 water bodies in 2017, has so far completed eight of them at a total cost Rs 210.23 lakh.
The completed water bodies include Nilakantha Puskarini in Patia under Ward-3, Masjid Pond Haridaspur under Ward-4, Sadhu Pond near Jaipur, Pahala under Ward 4, Maa Ugalamani Pond under Ward-5, Gadakana Pokhari under Ward-9, Bhotapada Pond under Ward-10, Balunkeswar Pond under Ward 37 and Jena Sahi Pokhari under Ward-32.
All these ponds/water bodies were developed with retaining wall along the water front, pathways or parikrama, landscaping, water outlet for efficient drainage of excess water and railing or fencing as per requirement and budget and local need.
Work over the rest six water bodies would be over by April 30, said an official. They are Fishery Pond in laxmisagar, Kapileswar Pond, Jhara Pokhari in Jagamara, Baghua Pokhari in Jadupur and Badapokhari in Begunia under Ward-64 and Haja Pokhari in Sundarpada. The money is being funded by the Odisha Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (OUIDF).
A senior engineer of BMC, in-charge of the renovation work of water bodies, said that apart from the development work, de-silting of the pond was also carried out to ensure better depth or water level in the ponds