Bhubaneswar: In yet another successful a joint eviction drive the enforcement squads of Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Odisha Water and Sewerage Board (OWSSB) removed an encroachment from near IRC Square, where a landowner has illegally occupied three manholes of the sewerage network.
Due to this illegal occupation the sewage was thus was getting mixed up with the discharge of nearby storm water drain, while the latter is supposed to carry only rain water. The consequence was that the entire sewage of the IRC area was getting mixed with the rainwater near ISKCON area and was polluting the water, which was emerging out of the culvert below NH and was bifurcating into two drains through Behera Sahi and Bhoi Sahi, respectively.
The major encroacher, who had made the sewage system of ISKON side dysfunctional had did the encroachment for over a decade. With the rainwater issue near ISKCON area getting noticed due to the water logging situation, the eviction was planned after the visit of BMC Commissioner-cum-Vice-Chairman BDA Dr. Krishan Kumar, who did a Ground Zero survey on July 25.
As per the law discharge of sewage to rain water drain is a criminal offence, and obstruction of water and especially waste water is also punishable and calls for action under the Odisha Municipal Corporation Act, 2003.
Additional Commissioner-cum-Member Enforcement BDA Bhabani Shankar Chayani, who led the drive today said, after the encroachment was removed the NHAI people barricaded the area with concrete slabs so that later the Odisha Water Supply and Sewerage Board in association with PHEO would develop the defunct sewerage line to ensure respite for the residents of Nayapalli Behera Sahi and Bhoi Sahi.
The OWSSB has been instructed to inspect all the households and establishments including Presidency Hotel, ISKCON, Krishna Plaza from IRC Square to ID Market and disconnect the illegal sewage connection falling into the storm water drain. They should obtain connection with the sewage line being made functional from IRC to ID Market, after today’s enforcement.
More than 50 women residents of Behera Sahi and Bhoi Sahi, accompanied by local councillor Naba Kumar Behera, were also present, who narrated their ordeal and how they are facing the problem of water logging mixed with the sewerage load from the ISKCON side due to the encroachment. They are happy that once the sewerage network is restored, only rainwater will flow into their side through the siphon near Krishna Tower.
Archana Behera (45) of Behera Sahi, said “we were having a pathetic time of facing the rainwater mixed with the waste, but once the system is in place the situation will change.’’
Sukanti Sethi (35) from Bhoi Sahi, said “today’s enforcement will really help the residents of the low-lying areas of Nayapalli as there would be no bad smell coming out from the rainwater.’’
Among others City Engineer Debasundar Mohapatra, BMC Zonal Deputy Commissioner (South-West) Deeptirani Sahu, ACP Kishore Chandra Mund, Nayapalli IIC Umakanta Pradhan, senior officials of NHAI and PHEO and BDA Enforcement Officer-II Pramod Patra and liasoning officer Subhansu Mohanty were present during the demolition drive.
ITER BOUNDARY WALL REMOVED
During another early morning eviction drive, which started near ITER Engineering College under Sikshya O Anusandhan University (SOA) in Ward No. 64 along the natural Drainage Channel No. 9 ended with removal of 176 feet long boundary wall of the engineering college for encroaching upon the path of the drainage channel.
BMC Zonal Deputy Commissioner (South-West) Deeptirani Sahu led the operation, which started around 8.30 am and continued till 12 noon. Two squads from BDA and one from BMC were engaged with an excavator to execute the enforcement drive. Earlier BMC Commissioner-cum-Vice-Chairman BDA Dr. Krishan Kumar, who did a Ground Zero survey of the area, had ordered the removal of the boundary wall as the wall was creating a barrier in the flow of rainwater.
During the eviction drive engineers from BMC Drainage Division, enforcement official from BDA and BMC were present.
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