The failure of the municipal authorities to clean choked drains has been causing frequent water-logging even during light rain in various areas of the industrial town here. Almost all the major drains of the town are opened and being used for dumping garbage and other waste.
The municipal authorities are not taking any preventive measures and a private agency is given the contract which is also not doing the job satisfactorily. Across the town, most drains are choked with waste and filled with stagnant sewage. The residents of the Puranabasti area are particularly vulnerable. The poorly maintained sewage system is also giving health scare to the residents. They fear that like previous years, this time too they will face problems of water-logging, overflowing and choked drains and a host of water-borne diseases.
Out of the total 24 wards of Jharsuguda township, the private agency has been given contract for 20 wards except Ward Nos 8,9, 23 and 24 on a monthly payment of Rs 14,19, 292. They are also neglecting their duties.
Bijay Sahu, a resident of Cox colony, alleged that municipal authorities do not come on a regular basis to clean roads; nor is there any provision for dustbins in the locality. He alleged that in the absence of proper garbage lifting, residents are forced to throw garbage in vacant plots.
The entire town is infested with litters due to which there is an imminent threat of fatal diseases like dengue and malaria. “If the situation doesn’t improve anytime soon, it could escalate into a full blown health crisis,” said former Municipality Chairman Tapas Rai Choudhary.
When contacted, the Municipality Executive Officer Ram Chandra Pradhan said that he is aware of the situation and a meeting was already held with the Chairman on the matter. The garbage vehicle of the agency being out of order has given rise to such a situation. However, the situation will improve in the next two days, Pradhan added.
On the other hand, the Chairman Harish Ganatra expressed that all arrangements are made to make Jharsuguda city clean and beautiful. The cleaning arrangements are being personally monitored by him every morning, he expressed.