Bhubaneswar: In a significant step to enhance monsoon preparedness, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has constituted five additional rapid action teams (RAT) to address crisis situations such as waterlogging, drain choking, and flooding during the rainy season. Last year, only three teams were formed with limited equipment. This year, BMC has provided all necessary equipment to the teams, each comprising four trained workmen.
Enhanced Equipment and Safety Measures
BMC officials stated that all personnel have been equipped with safety harnesses and protective gear for field operations. The teams are armed with portable pump sets, mechanical jetting machines, concrete breakers, forks, and other handheld equipment, along with necessary vehicular logistics. These teams will oversee a total of 1,660 kilometers of drains across the city.
Drain Network Division
The BMC maintains 360 kilometers of major drains under the works department and an additional 1,300 kilometers of secondary drains, forming the city's primary storm water drainage network. To ensure effective monsoon preparedness and uninterrupted drainage flow, the entire 360-kilometer network has been divided into eight reaches. Dedicated agencies have been engaged for systematic cleaning, desilting, and maintenance of these drains. Each rapid action team will be attached to a private agency responsible for drain cleaning, enabling quick response to waterlogging and urban flooding incidents, as per BMC Commissioner Chanchal Rana.
Operational Readiness
BMC officials emphasized that the rapid action teams will remain in a state of operational readiness and undertake prompt intervention at vulnerable locations to prevent water stagnation on major roads and adjoining areas. “Adequate manpower, machinery, equipment, and logistics support have been kept in readiness to ensure real-time response and swift restoration of drainage flow during monsoon emergencies across the city,” the commissioner added.
