The Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC) has unveiled a comprehensive month-long campaign to desilt and clean city drains, with operations scheduled to commence on May 15. This initiative aims to enhance drainage efficiency and mitigate flooding risks during the upcoming monsoon season.
Deployment of Cleaning Crews
Two separate cleaning teams will be deployed to cover the eastern and western sectors of Jamshedpur. The civic body has assembled a 40-member team for Jamshedpur East and a 30-member team for Jamshedpur West, ensuring dedicated manpower for both regions.
Drain Network and Management
The command area encompasses 56 major drains and over 150 moderate-sized drains. Drain management is bifurcated between Tata Steel Utility and Infrastructure Services Ltd, which handles drains within company command limits, and local municipal bodies, which oversee those beyond its jurisdiction. Key areas include Bistupur and Ramdas Bhatta with 15 large drains, Northern Town with 11, Burmamines and Kashidih-Sakchi with 10 each, Sonari with 7, and Baridih with 3.
Objectives and Measures
JNAC Deputy Municipal Commissioner Krishna Kumar stated that the month-long exercise is aimed at extensive cleaning and monsoon preparedness. Alongside desilting, iron screens will be installed in sewers to trap discarded plastic and prevent clogging, a persistent issue during heavy rains.
Flooding Concerns
Clogged drains during monsoons remain a perennial problem, often causing floodwaters to enter homes in low-lying areas. During heavy rain, slums and peripheral residential pockets such as Premnagar, Jojobera East Plant Basti, Devnagar, and areas across Golmuri, Baridih, and Kadma face the brunt of flooding.
Monitoring and Repairs
A five-member committee chaired by the JNAC city manager will monitor daily cleaning operations. The panel includes a sanitation supervisor, sanitation inspector, junior engineer, and assistant engineer (infrastructure). It will also identify and repair broken drains through surveys. After desilting and garbage removal, affected areas will be fogged and treated with bleaching powder to ensure hygiene.
