As usual, the predicaments of Cuttack city returned with the first major showers of this year’s monsoon. Major roads are now waterlogged with ankle-deep to knee-deep water as the city received incessant rains from Sunday afternoon.
According to official sources, the city received more than 20 mm of rainfall in 24 hours and there are predictions for more rains in next 48 hours. The people residing in the low-lying areas are a worried lot.
The city commuters are now cursing the local civic body for its casual approach in repairing the roads and drains. Mock-filled drain waters have now submerged most of the roads in areas of Abhinav Bidanasi, Gamhadia, Sutahat, Friends’ Colony, Tulasipur, Mahanadi Vihar and a better part of the Badambadi bus terminus.
“Most of the roads are damaged at Abhnav Bidanasi, the satellite township of the CDA where minor to major road accidents become a regular feature,” said a college student of the area claiming that the two-wheeler riders are the worst sufferers.
When contacted, city Mayor SK Ghosh parroted the oft-repeated version that he was aware of the situation and efforts are being made to repair the damaged roads soon. “The Works Department has been asked to repair the roads of the CDA for which the estimate and tender process are over. The repair works will end by the end of July,” the Mayor asserted.
Elsewhere in the city, the situation is no better. Due to the choked drains, the roads are filled with sewerage and the people are forced to wade through it inviting trouble for them. Although the civic body had claimed that all drains of the city have been repaired and desilted much before the onset of monsoon, the ground situation is, however, completely different.