The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed asked the State Rural Development department Secretary to take appropriate action on the drainage problem in Bhadrak.
Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy in a petition to the apex human rights body had contended that due to lack of sewage system and well-maintained drainage facility, flood like situation prevails in Bhadrak town during rain, submerging roads and inundating several houses.
The worst-affected wards in the town are 14, 16, 18, 11, 21 and 30 where concrete houses get flooded and thatched houses get damaged due to rain and water logging.
Due to the inaction of the district administration and the Bhadrak Municipality to address the issue, the people have been left in lurch as they are even unable to cook for themselves, the petitioner alleged.
Almost all the roads under the municipality are in a dilapidated state and garbage heaps along the roads have led to acute hygiene problem, he added.
In the absence of a proper sewerage and drainage system, many areas of the town face the problem of water logging. Acharya Vihar, Asthal, Nilakanthapur, Hazarinagar, Patnasahi, Apartibindha, Sanasankarpur, Kazimohala, Mirzapur, Gabasahi, Jagannathpur, Santhia and Jenasahi are the worst affected.
Of 16 main drains, six do not function due to encroachments. The oldest drain at Ghosara Bazar has no outlet to flush out the water, he had told.
All the drain water of the town flows through this main drain to Salandi river. The areas around the drain have been encroached not only by the people but also by the Municipality market complexes. Due to the municipality’s lack of initiative to come up with a systematic garbage disposal system, the stagnant water turns into small ponds, the petitioner said.
He further lamented that even demonstrations, gheraos and bandhs protesting against poor drainage system in the area could fetch no result and the commission to come to the rescue of the local inhabitants.
He requested the NHRC to direct the authorities to remove the encroachment of drainage and ensure proper drainage and sewage facility in Bhadrak town and ensure the basic human rights of the locals.