Industrial effluent floods two colonies

BHUBANESWAR: The waste water from Chandaka industrial estate has flooded two colonies of Sailashree Vihar here. Though the residents urged chief secretary G C Pati to check discharge of polluted water, no action has been taken.
Neglected, they have decided to block the road at Damana Square on May 11 to press for their demand.
"We filed a petition in the office of the chief secretary and met him personally.He forwarded the complaint to Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), which decided to construct drains in our area under Comprehensive Development Plan. But it is yet to start the work," said Sailashree Vihar Residents' Welfare Association (SVRWA) general secretary Ashok Kumar Pattnaik.
Besides BMC, the residents on February 2 had a discussion with officials of Bhubaneswar Development Authority and Roads and Buildings wing on constructing drains and roads to redirect the waste water.
"The BMC officials are not responding to our repeated reminders on the decision taken at the meeting. We are living in extremely polluted environment for the last three years," said Pattnaik.
During rains, the waste water mixes with the rainwater and stagnates for days, leading to foul smell.
"The civic body has failed to check discharge of water from industrial units and create a healthy environment in the two localities," said SVRWA vice president S N Mohapatra. Tubewells in the locality have been contaminated, he added.
City engineer (BMC) Basant Parida said the two localities are situated in low-lying areas. "We are working out a plan to divert the waste water from industrial units," he added.