Bhubaneswar (SunstarTV Bureau): For the upcoming Monsoon of this year, the Odisha government has prepared a ground-level action plan for smooth management of flood and waterlogging in urban pockets of the State.
The initiatives has been taken by state government after witnessing season long several urban regions of acute waterlogging issues and also experiences a number of disasters like flood and cyclone, the government has laid out an exhaustive set of measures to take up combative measures in an urgent manner.
The State Housing and Urban Development Department has mentioned below the list of measures required to be taken up by district collectors, municipal commissioners and executive officers of municipalities/NACs:-
1. Drainage Clearance: Like previous years, ULBs have to take up joint verification with respective Drainage Division/M.I Division of Water Resources Deptt. to ensure desilting & repair of all clogged/choked drain channels before the onset of monsoon.
2. Inspection: Inspection of all drains/manholes and repair & replacement of drain cover to prevent accidents. When there is heavy rain during monsoon, the roads, pedestrian footpaths and drains are covered with rain water as a result of which holes or damage on the drains particularly covered drains are not visible for which people fall into the drain causing accidents and sometimes fatal. Hence following actions are required to be undertaken well ahead of onset of monsoon :
a) 100% verification of all drains and potholes (both open and closed) be made within the ULB limit.
b) In case of closed drains/potholes, identify the location where the drain cover has been damaged and there is chance of accident.
c) Take immediate steps to repair and cover the hole.
d) In case, it is not possible to repair the same you may put appropriate signage to caution people so that accident can be avoided.
e) Facility for community latrine, bathing space, washing space etc. at strategic public places.
f) Cleaning, de-silting, maintenance of drain network with disinfectants/ larvicidal application.
3. i) Eviction from drain channels: Wherever there is encroachment of drain channels which causes obstruction to the free flow of either storm-water, rainwater or waste-water, same should be evicted/demolished forthwith and channels are to be kept obstruction-free.
ii) Legal action, wherever required to be initiated against the defaulting person or institution in order to prevent them from further encroachment.
4. Identification of Flood spots and De-watering: Vulnerable water-logging area/ low lying areas to be identified and appropriate steps be taken for discharge of water expeditiously at the time of emergency by installing pumping systems there.
5. Repair and Restoration: Immediate arrangements to be made for emergency repair and restoration of roads/drains etc.
6. Avoidance of Drain Congestion:
i) lt is seen that a large volume of construction and demolition materials are being piled up inside the drains and on the roadside which run away through rainwater causing drain congestion. The same should be strictly monitored.
ii) De-silting materials taken out of the drains has to be removed immediately to prevent them from re-entering drains.
7. Control of vector-borne diseases:
i) In the rainy season, due to flood-like situation, there may be an outbreak of common vector-borne diseases like malaria, dengue & Japanese encephalitis & water-borne diseases like diarrhoea and jaundice. So water logging in habitation areas may completely be avoided. Proper sanitation measures are to be taken with utmost care to avert these eventualities. The required co-operation from other Departments may also be ensured.
ii) To avoid all these diseases, application of larvicides and bleaching powder in the water logging areas, cover & sealing of septic tanks & soak pits, proper disposal of garbage, cover water container etc. are to be taken up on urgent basis.
iii) Regular fogging in the ULB areas are required to be undertaken on priority.
8. i) Polythene Menace for Drain clogging: Rampant use of polythene in urban areas is a major cause for drain channel clogging leading to water-logging in adjacent low lying areas. This may be monitored.
ii) Enforcement of polythene ban: ULBs are to ensure strict implementation of polythene ban.
9. Fixinq of screens in the drains: Installation of Bar Screens at appropriate places in the Secondary / Tertiary drains and Wire mesh at the outfall for removal of Solid Waste found In storm-water may be ensured. The removed materials should be disposed of properly.
10.Formation of Unified Command and Control Centre: All ULBs are requested for the formation of a Unified Command and Control Centre headed by the Commissioner/ED with members from other line Departments/agencies including Fire Services to manage the flood-like situation within their jurisdiction. The line Departments may also be requested to send their representatives as member in the said centre.
During monsoon the unified control rooms should become very active and provide all necessary assistance & coordination to public and all stakeholders in effectively managing the urban flooding and other inconveniences on a war footing. A coordination meeting with all relevant Departments & agencies may be conducted immediately and necessary office orders may be issued formally notifying the constitution of the Unified command & control centre with helpline (telephone number). This control room shall be managed by officials on roster duty basis during the operation period. The Collectors & Commissioners are requested to ensure inter-departmental coordination and assistance in managing this important activity of the ULBs in view of the sensitivity and Public perception of the effectiveness of the Local Governance, the Housing and Urban Development Department said in the directive.
It also mentioned that many of the above activities can also be taken up leveraging funds under UNNATI/UWEI/FC grants following the relevant guidelines and SOP. The above instructions should be carried out and followed meticulously so as to prevent & manage water logging / flood-like situation.
