The Congress on Tuesday came down heavily on the State Government over the drain mishap in the city in which a Class-X student was killed on Sunday.
PCC president Niranjan Patnaik pointed out that such mishaps are occurring frequently due to negligence on the Government’s part.
“Despite repeated causalities in several drain-related mishaps, the State Government is yet to wake up from deep slumber. Several drains are left open. Permission is granted by the agencies for construction of houses without paying any attention to proper drainage,” said Patnaik.Student Congress president Yasir Nawaj said the previous Manmohan Singh Government and the present Central Government have provided adequate funds for construction and maintenance of drains. Due to the Odisha Government’s lackadaisical attitude, the money hasn’t been utilised properly or has been siphoned off.
The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) authorities take bribes to allow big builders to construct high-rise buildings on natural drainage channels. The Supreme Court’s directives to cover the drains have been flouted, alleged Nawaj.
Later, Students’ Congress members staged a demonstration at Master Canteen Square against the recurring drain mishaps. They burnt posters of Ministers Pratap Jena and Ashok Panda, MLA Ananta Narayan Jena and the BMC Commissioner.