Berhampur: To tackle chronic waterlogging, Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) has drawn up an ambitious Rs 1,821-crore integrated drainage plan, including construction of an 85-million-litre-per-day (MLD) stormwater treatment plant and more than 160 km of new drains across the city.A detailed project report (DPR) for the project has been prepared by a private consultancy after extensive surveys of drainage channels and waterlogging-prone areas. Technical experts and civic body officials will review the proposal before forwarding it to the state govt for approval.The proposed project includes an 85 MLD treatment plant at Burukudi at an estimated cost of Rs 106 crore, expansion of the city’s drainage network, and land acquisition worth Rs 242 crore for construction of additional drains.According to civic officials, the project aims to improve flow of stormwater and greywater, which frequently causes inundation in several parts of the city during monsoon.At present, BeMC has around 534.5 km of drains of various categories. The civic body plans to expand the network to over 750 km by widening catchment areas of Sapua, Bahana and Surya nullahs, the city’s three major drainage channels.The catchment area of Bahana and Sapua nullahs is proposed to be increased from 308 sq km to 419 sq km and from 146 sq km to over 200 sq km, respectively.BeMC in-charge city engineer Bikash Padhy said the DPR has been prepared keeping in view the city’s projected population growth over the next three decades. He said the proposed measures, coupled with renovation of major drains, are expected to significantly reduce waterlogging.Berhampur MLA K Anil Kumar urged authorities to expedite the project, noting that areas such as Gandhi Nagar, Gajapati Nagar, Nilanchal Nagar, Sriram Nagar and several low-lying pockets face flooding after almost every spell of heavy rain.
