Bhubaneswar: After widespread flooding in the city here, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to act tough on individuals and institutions for encroachments on natural drainage channels.
City Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena said already 10 sensitive and vulnerable points have been identified while special measures would be taken to clear encroachments on various natural drainage channels in different parts of the city.
Jena said that the decision was taken at a meeting convened by Minister Ashok Panda Monday.
Besides steps will also be taken to widen Gangua nullah that carries bulk of the city’s wastewater. It is also one of the major natural drainage channels for discharge of excess rainwater. The mayor added that under no circumstances encroachers will be allowed to block natural drainage channels as the recently-announced amnesty scheme by the government will not be applicable to such illegal constructions. BMC officials stated that all the encroachments will be cleared within a year and if required, legal assistance will also be sought.
It may be worth mentioning here that several localities in the city were waterlogged following heavy rain Saturday.
The BMC donned battle gear to redress assorted grievances of the people across the city.
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