Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi chaired a high-level meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan today to review the drainage systems in the Twin City of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, focusing on mitigating artificial flooding during the monsoon season.
With approximately 80% of Bhubaneswar’s drainage cleaning completed, the Chief Minister issued a directive to finalise the remaining work by June 20.
The meeting highlighted temporary drainage arrangements at key flood-prone areas like ISKCON, Cuttack Road, Ahlya Nagar, SUM Hospital, and Ayurveda College in Bhubaneswar. Emphasising permanent solutions, CM Majhi instructed officials to initiate processes to address chronic waterlogging, particularly near ISKCON, where flooding disrupts traffic.
Bhubaneswar has 15 natural drains, along with numerous smaller channels, which primarily feed into the Gangua River, a tributary of the Daya River. These drains often carry pollutants, including hospital waste, contributing to environmental concerns. To tackle this, the Chief Minister stressed the establishment of water treatment plants to purify Gangua River water and enhance the aesthetic appeal of the drains.
In Cuttack, the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) Commissioner briefed the CM on measures to combat waterlogging. CM Majhi underscored the need for inter-departmental coordination to ensure effective solutions. He also directed both the Bhubaneswar and Cuttack Municipal Corporations to take preventive measures against waterborne diseases during the monsoon.
The Chief Minister extended his focus beyond the twin cities, instructing officials to address similar issues in other urban areas across Odisha. The meeting saw participation from key officials, including Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Principal Secretary Usha Padhee, BMC Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, BDA Vice-Chairman Dr. N. Tirumala Nayak, CMC Commissioner Anam Charan Patra, and representatives from NHAI and the Works Department.
