Bhubaneswar: In a move to address recurring waterlogging in the city, all newly constructed stormwater drains within the municipal limits will be handed over to the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) for regular upkeep and maintenance. This decision was taken during a recent meeting of senior officials.
Decision Details
According to the minutes of the meeting, it was decided that after completion, such newly constructed drains shall be formally handed over to the respective urban local bodies for routine cleaning and maintenance. In Bhubaneswar, BMC will take charge of the drainage network to ensure its upkeep and maintenance.
Streamlining Maintenance
Officials said the move is expected to streamline maintenance work and address frequent waterlogging in several low-lying and congestion-prone areas of the city, especially during the monsoon. The BMC has been asked to complete the takeover procedure by the end of this month.
The meeting, chaired by senior officials of the housing and urban development and works departments, also discussed the rising burden on BMC due to rapid urbanisation and increased stormwater flow. It noted that with the rapid pace of urban expansion, the frequency of drain maintenance activities has significantly increased over the years.
Budget Allocation
“Regular annual budgetary support shall be provisioned henceforth for meeting recurring expenditures related to desilting, cleaning and minor repair of such drains,” the minutes read. Officials said as per the decision, a dedicated allocation of Rs 75 crore per year for drainage upkeep will be provided to the BMC.
The need for additional funding was highlighted during the meeting, where it was pointed out that BMC has already spent Rs 25 crore from its own resources on maintenance of PWD drains handed over earlier this year. The projected annual requirement of Rs 75 crore is aimed at meeting the growing demand for cleaning and desilting, officials added.
Mayor's Statement
“Bringing all drains under BMC’s control will help plug gaps in maintenance and improve accountability. A monthly coordination mechanism involving our officials and the works department engineers has also been proposed to review progress and address bottlenecks in the future,” mayor Sulochana Das said.
