Despite continuous heavy rains, due to prior preparation, 24×7 monitoring and prompt action of the Municipal Corporation, there was no waterlogging in the city. Drainage was restored by immediate relief work at many places.
Raigarh. Despite the continuous heavy rain since last night, the effect of the Municipal Corporation’s pre-planned strategy, constant monitoring and timely action was clearly visible in the entire city. Under the guidance of Corporation Commissioner Brijesh Singh Kshatriya, the technical action plan prepared before the onset of monsoon proved successful. As a result, the situation remained completely under control in most of the sensitive and waterlogged areas of the city and people did not face any major problems in transportation or daily work.
Monsoon Management: Survey and identification of waterlogged areas before monsoon.
Before the onset of monsoon, the Municipal Corporation conducted a detailed survey of all those places in the city where the problem of waterlogging was encountered every year during the rains. These include Paithu Dabri, Girls College, Sanjay Complex, Dugdh Dairy, Laxmipur Pulia, Siddhivinayak Colony, Stadium Area, Khetpara, Gulmohar Colony, Modi Nagar, Chiranjeevidas Nagar, Prem Nagar, Chandranagar, Navapara, Oxygen, Chandgiram Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Sonumuda, Mitthumuda, Savitri Nagar, Goga Rice Mill, CMHO Tiraha, Patrapali and Friends. Many other low lying areas including the colony were included. Separate action plans were prepared for all these areas so that the drainage system is not affected during the rains.
Flood Control Plan: Special duty of employees imposed in every sensitive area
As part of preparations for flood and disaster management, even before the rains started, the corporation had fixed special duty of employees in all the identified areas. These employees were given the responsibility of continuously monitoring the drains and drains, giving immediate information about any blockage in drainage and ensuring action on the spot. Due to this well-planned system, waterlogging was controlled at most places even before it occurred.
Heavy Rain Action: Water flow restored by removing water hyacinth, carrot grass and debris
Wherever there was a possibility of water drainage being affected, the corporation team took immediate action. Water hyacinth and carrot grass growing in Paithu Dabri drain and Rambhatha culvert were immediately removed so that the flow of water was not obstructed. At the same time, the drainage was normalized by removing the garbage and debris stuck in Rambhatha culvert, CMHO Tiraha culvert and drain culvert of Jutmill old bus stand with the help of JCB machines.
Artificial drain made in Green City Colony, debris removed in Babupara
As soon as the initial situation of waterlogging arose in Green City Colony, the corporation team immediately reached the spot. With the help of JCB machine, drainage of water was accelerated by preparing an artificial drain. Similarly, in Babupara ward no. 11, the wall on the roadside had fallen into the drain, due to which the flow of water stopped. As soon as the information was received, the emergency team removed the debris and made the water flow of the drain normal again.
24×7 Control Room: Employees and machines remained active in all three shifts.
The Municipal Corporation has kept the control room active 24 hours for the entire monsoon season. Employees have been put on duty in all three shifts. Also, field staff, sanitation workers and essential machinery have been kept on constant alert mode so that relief work can be carried out immediately in case of any emergency.
Corporation Commissioner Brijesh Singh Kshatriya said – Safety of citizens is our first priority.
Municipal Corporation Commissioner Brijesh Singh Kshatriya said that the entire corporation administration is working with full seriousness and promptness to ensure that citizens do not face any inconvenience during the rainy season. He said that major drains, culverts and waterlogging prone places of the city are being continuously monitored. Essential machinery and staff have been kept on alert round the clock so that any complaint can be immediately processed. He appealed to the citizens that if they get information about waterlogging, drain blockage or any other emergency, they should immediately inform the control room of the corporation.
Vegetable cart and household bucket found in drains, drainage disrupted
On receiving information about waterlogging in the big drain coming out of Sanjay Market, the cleaning team reached the spot. During cleaning, two vegetable carts were found stuck in the culvert of the drain, which were taken out. Preliminary information revealed that these carats were probably thrown into the drain by a vegetable seller. Similarly, the drainage of water was found obstructed in the drain passing near the house of Ramesh Aggarwal located at Soni Bhawan. During cleaning, a bucket from his house came out of the drain, after which the water flow became normal.
Four zone strategy became a major reason for success
The Municipal Corporation had already conducted a survey of waterlogging prone areas by dividing the entire city into four zones – Kotra Road, Main City, Jute Mill and Chakradhar Nagar. After this, extensive cleaning of big drains as well as small drains of the localities was done. The effect of this strategy was that despite continuous heavy rains, there was no serious situation of waterlogging even in the wards located around rivers and big drains. The city residents got huge relief due to the prior preparation, continuous monitoring and prompt action of the Municipal Corporation.