HC seeks plan to check waterlogging in Cuttack

Cuttack: The Orissa high court has directed the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) to file an affidavit on Friday indicating its “contingency plan to address the waterlogging problem in the Cuttack city in view of the ensuing monsoon season”.
In its order on Tuesday, the special bench constituted for adjudicating on PILs concerning civic problems in Cuttack expected the CMC to indicate details of the number of dewatering pumps installed in different areas and the number of persons in-charge for operating them.
The court also expected details on the maintenance of a logbook to show for how many hours the pumps were functioning with attendant information, including clearing of garbage from the drains, to allow rainwater to flow smoothly.
The bench of Justices S K Sahoo and V Narasingh directed the secretary of urban development department, CMC commissioner and DCP (Cuttack) to appear in person or through video link at 2 pm on Friday to “effectively address the issue of waterlogging”.
The court issued the order after some members of the Bar raised concerns regarding lack of steps like sufficient drainage pumps and manpower in each ward to tackle the waterlogging problem. President of Orissa High Court Bar Association, Bijay Dash, presented before the court a video footage on the situation in certain areas when there was rainfall for around one hour last week.
Taking it on record, the bench observed the waterlogging “manifestly shows lack of preparedness on the part of Cuttack Municipal Corporation and Water Corporation of Odisha’s drainage division”.
The court also wanted to know whether the drain desilting drive has been completed. CMC counsel Debashis Nayak submitted that in some areas, it has been completed and it is expected to be finished in the rest of the areas within a week.
Taking note of it, the bench said, “We make it clear that after the time sought for by the counsel for CMC is over, the president of the High Court Bar Association and the advocates committee through the respective advocates of different wards shall verify about the status of the drain desilting drive and produce photographs and even video recording of such desilting operation.”