ISKCON-flooding: Joint squad digs up 100 metre drain, clears obstructions in Behera Sahi

Bhubaneswar: In order to remove all physical obstructions on the side drain of Behera Sahi originating from near the siphon in front of Krishna Towers, Nayapalli , and to straighten it for better disposal of rain water, the joint squad of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL) carried out an enforcement work and made an excavation of 100 metres to channel out the water through a shorter route.
The action was necessitated, as the road and the accompanying drain inside Behera Sahi was having a circuitous path and at many places the secondary drain originating from the siphon, was obstructed and encroached by the local residents causing miniscule or no flow of water rain.
While the other branch of the siphon’s mouth passing through Bhoi Sahi is having a normal flow, non-passage of rain water on its counterpart was partly contributing towards the flooding on the NH towards the ISKCON-temple side.
Secondly, the encroachment of the straight road from the NH from near Harekrishna Khimji Jewellers towards Behera Sahi was causing problems for the commuters. In other words, the encroachments and obstructions were affecting both the right of way (ROW) or exact width of the existing road and the flow of rainwater emanating from the siphon in front of Krishna Towers.
Additional Commissioner-cum-Member Enforcement BDA, Bhabani Chayani said “today’s action involving demolition and removal of obstruction from the road and excavation of 100-metre drain on the Behera Sahi end gave the local resident a relief in two way, i.e. getting a clear access to NH and also passage of water.’’
Executive Engineer and Drainage Division in-charge of BMC Pradip Duria said “the new path for the drain is to reduce the circuitous path of its earlier spread and making it straight would definitely help in release of more water from the siphon-end near Krishna Tower towards Behera Sahi, so that the rainwater reaches the nearby origin point of Drainage Channel No. 10.’’
Encroachments, faulty design of flyover without considering the catchment study and encroachment by locals and even blocking of the side drains have made water logging a major issue in around ISKCON temple.
However, during recent meetings between the civic authorities and NHAI, it was decided to have a long-term plan for the area so that the water logging issue is addressed properly. The Central Enforcement Monitoring Committee is also taking up action for facilitating better flow of rainwater and solving the water logging issue.

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