The Central Government reportedly had given financial assistance worth Rs 15 lakh under the Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (OUIDF) under water body scheme,12 years back to Brahmapur civic body which would provide aesthetic ambience to the city, besides cleaning and modernisation.
However, the civic body is yet to spend Rs 2 crore even after the lapse of twelve years and three successive elective bodies of BMC have completed their tenure.
The Ganjam Collector is the Chief Administrator of the BMC till the new body to BMC gets elected and the date for holding election is yet to be notified by the Government. In the meantime, the number of aspirants for the post of Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Corporator for the prestigious municipal corporation has increased manifold.
As per the scheme, 80 per cent of the cost is to be borne by the Central Government while the State Government and the BMC would bear 10 per cent each.
This financial assistance was part of a proposal placed before the Union Government led by UPA to renovate and modernize 42 oldest and monumental water bodies which were found defunct in Brahmapur.
It may be mentioned here that, the task of management of the premier BMC went to the hands of the ruling BJD for the first time in 2003 municipal election. After capturing BMC, Sulochana Swain got elected as the first woman Chairperson of the erstwhile Brahmapur Municipality and during her tenure (2005-06), the Brahmapur Municipality got the assistance from the Center. Though late, but the Municipality identified the water bodies and started renovation work at a much slower pace.
The water bodies included for renovation then were Haradakhndi Pokhari, Dhoba Bandh (Mentu Chashak), Diamond Tank, Ganesh Bandh (Industrial area), Boitalu Pokhari, Bijipur Pokhari, Sunari Bandh and Kamapalli Bandh.
However, the renovation of six more oldest water bodies, including Ramalingam tank and Nilakantheswar tank could not be taken up then as these water bodies were reportedly subject to dispute of private ownership, and hence were excluded from the scope of renovation then.
But, the renovation work of most of these water bodies were substandard and hence could not last long and received public anger. When the Government team wanted to visit the site to inspect the work, the then Brahmapur Municipality had shown Boita Bandha work, as the quality of renovation work of the water body reportedly was better compared to other water bodies in order to earn appreciation of the inspection team.
In addition to these, there are several other old water bodies under the territorial ambience of BMC which are now in a deplorable and abandoned state which includes Nelia Bandh, Bedha Bandh and Kamapalli Bandh which go un-noticed by the BMC, some former Corporators of BMC alleged.
It may be mentioned that after that the Phailin cyclone in 2013, the World Bank then had given an assistance of Rs 200 crore based on the recommendations made by the team of UNO but the sum of money has not been spent yet.
Construction and renovation of drains including bridges and concrete roads in certain slum areas and interior lanes is still not completed.
The road condition, following the laying of Janibili pipelines, in most of part of city is quite deplorable. This shows the degree of involvement of the BMC and the elected representatives to utilize the amount in development work, said a senior citizen.
According to information available, the BMC has recentlychalked out a plan to renovate five water bodies of the city which is expected to get a fresh lease of life soon.
Sources said that, around Rs 36 crore will be spent in the reclamation of water bodies under the Odisha Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (OUIDF). Brahmapur MP Chandra Sekhar Sahu has already laid the foundation of the reclamation of Bijipur Badabandh, one of the oldest water bodies in the city here recently.
Similarly, another Rs 75 lakh will be spent in the renovation of Bijipur Bandh which is likely to be completed in next five months, the BMC sources said. The renovation work includes grille-fencing, walkway, sitting arrangements and illumination on all the four sides of the tank, among others things.
Besides Bijipur, the renovation of Haradakhandi tank will be taken up soon at a cost of Rs 2 crore, while Rs 10 crore will be spent for Agula Bandh and Rs 15 crore for the renovation of Bedha Bandh, sources said. However, some senior citizens raised question about the timing of the work as the cost may escalate since the monsoon is approaching nearer.
On the other hand, the ongoing renovation work of Ramlingeswar pond at an estimated cost of Rs 8 crore spread over an area of eight acre, is expected to be completed in the next one month, added sources.
The BMC is going to float tender for the second phase of the Ramalingam tank renovation work for an estimated cost of Rs 4 crore.
Besides, the BMC is contemplating to install a silt-treatment plant to arrest siltation soon, sources said.