HC asks experts to examine Cuttack box drain project

Cuttack: The legal dispute over the cutting short the box drain planned under the state-of-the-art sewerage and drainage project in Cuttack has taken a decisive turn with the Orissa high court seeking the assistance of an expert committee.
The special bench of Justice S K Sahoo and Justice V Narasingh constituted for adjudicating on PILs concerning civic problems in Cuttack said, “After going through the reasons assigned, we think it proper that let the said site be inspected by the separate expert committee and they will submit the report through the learned counsel for the state as to whether the construction of box drain in that particular area is technically feasible without affecting the existing buildings which are situated in the vicinity of the drain.”
The box drain was planned to prevent unhygienic conditions over a 3.5 km stretch of main storm water channel– 1 from Buxi Bazar through Chhatra Bazar to Matrubhawan.But the project has now been limited to 2,690 metres of box drain from Buxi Bazar till Chhatra Bazar, leaving open 810 metres from Chhatra Bazar to Matrubhawan. Water Corporation of Odisha (WATCO), which is implementing the project, had taken the decision on the ground that it is not possible to have the box drain on that stretch as there are buildings along its side.
Corporator of ward no. 37 of Cuttack Municipal Corporation Jatin Kumar Behera filed a petition alleging that residents of ward no. 36 and 37 along the 810 metres stretch will be facing unhygienic condition due to open drain. “The report shall be furnished by the expert team on June 18, 2024 at 2.00 pm,” the bench said in its May 17 order.