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No respite for Krishna Nagar residents

— Photo : T. Singaravelou

Pitiful: A few hours of rain causes flooding in 2nd Cross Krishna Nagar in Puducherry due to encroachment on stormwater drain.

PUDUCHERRY: Residents of 2nd Cross, Krishna Nagar, complain that the government has not acted upon their long-pending demand to desilt and widen a stormwater drain in their locality. Encroachments and illegal construction on the drain was the main cause of flooding in the locality, they said.

Even a few hours of continuous rain inundates the streets in 2nd Cross and leads to water stagnation.

“A few days ago, the entire area got flooded when it rained. The main reason is that the stormwater drain gets blocked in Rainbow Nagar and water cannot flow to the Uppar drain,” Panchali, a resident and member of self-help group said.

The problem started after a few houses were constructed near the stormwater canal at Rainbow Nagar four years ago, blocking free flow of water.

Members belonging to the SHG have been approaching the government for the last four years to remove encroachments and desilt the canal so that water would flow free to the Uppar Drain, she said.

“Tenders were floated and bhoomi pooja performed to desilt and widen the canal, three times. However, the work is yet to start,” Maheswari, another resident and member of the SHG said.

“We pray that it should not rain continuously. Last year, water stagnated several days and we were cut-off from other parts of the town. A few days of rain last week has worsened mosquito menace,” Panchali said.

Residents said that every time the area gets flooded, the government machinery would visit the place.

“They always say that the canal would be desilted and encroachments removed before the next monsoon. During the last four years, we were given several assurances, but the situation has not changed,” Maheswari said.

There are no separate sewers, which results in waste being let into the drain, leading to fouls smell.

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