KMC plans to check waterlogging in North and Central Kolkata

Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has chalked out a plan to come up with a solution so that water drains at a faster pace from a handful of pockets in North and Central Kolkata that are prone to waterlogging even when it does not rain in torrents.

"We have identified some pockets in Sukia Street, Madan Mohan Burman Road, and Mahatma Gandhi Road where there is some technical problem and water takes reasonably longer time to drain out in comparison to some other parts of the city where water accumulates when there is reasonably high rainfall. Utility services of metro rail and water supply pipeline underground acts as barrier to drainage infrastructure. We will conduct detailed inspection for two days to come up with a permanent solution to this problem," said Member Mayor in Council (Drainage) Tarak Singh.

It may be mentioned that Mayor Firhad Hakim has instructed KMC's drainage department to come out with a permanent solution for water logging and said that he would try to arrange for funds that will be needed for work.

The problem came to light after Singh held a meeting at Borough 4 with local MLA and councillors.

Singh also pointed out that desiliting work from Moulali to Palmer Bazaar area has suffered as the funds from the centre under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (Amrut) has not been received as yet. He urged BJP councilor Mina Devi Purohit to take up the matter with the centre so that the desilting work can be taken up in the stretch.

"There is a part of MG Road where the drainage system gets choked within a week after desiltation work is taken up and jetting machine has to be pressed into service every week. A permanent jetting machine will be kept in the area and it will take up cleaning work regularly particularly during the monsoon to prevent water logging,'a senior official of the Drainage department said.