E-Paper
City water-logged!
THOUSANDS OF residents living in low-lying areas of Allahpur, Mumfordganj, New Sohbatiabgh, Tagore Town and George Town could not have proper sleep Saturday night because fear of rain water entering their houses kept them awake following heavy downpour. While some were lucky and heaved a sigh of relief after water started receding following pumping that started late in the night many others became victim of administrative apathy and mismanagement as water entered their houses.
THOUSANDS OF residents living in low-lying areas of Allahpur, Mumfordganj, New Sohbatiabgh, Tagore Town and George Town could not have proper sleep Saturday night because fear of rain water entering their houses kept them awake following heavy downpour.
While some were lucky and heaved a sigh of relief after water started receding following pumping that started late in the night many others became victim of administrative apathy and mismanagement as water entered their houses.
Even the family members of Nagar Swasthya Adhikari Dr Arun Srivastava who lives in Baghambari area too had the agonising experience of water entering their house. Meanwhile the boundary walls of two houses collapsed in Tagore Town and LIC Colony.
Residents of ADA Colony in Mumfordganj, who had the harrowing experience of the year 2001, got frightened when water started entering their houses in the ground floor on Saturday night. However, area JE became their saviour after he rushed to purchase diesel on credit and started the pump much to the relief of residents.
The JE is reported to have taken the initiative after former corporator Ratan Dixit and Shiv Sewak Singh another corporator from Allahpur woke him up from slumber.
The Mumfordganj pump was not operational because of no stock of diesel even when it was raining like cats and dogs.
Water logging in Allahpur is being attributed to improper flow in Dadia drain which starts from Sohbatiabgh. Though the drain was reportedly cleaned before the onset of rains however it is damaged at several places which results in back flow of water, informed Shiv Sewak Singh.
Moreover, the drain in Parade area has a lot of silt which has not been cleaned. Another important cause of water-logging has been deployment of inexperienced Safai Nayaks who have no idea of the place. The Safai Nayaks posted in the area earlier were quite aware of the grey areas which needed more attention. The new team had no such experience.
Electric pumps at Mori Gate and Buxi Bandh were switched on after water level in Ganga touched the 81.40 metre mark, said Shiv Sewak who spent the whole night making rounds of Allahpur and Mumfordganj.Despite DM's directives the diesel had not been made available for the functioning of pumps at any of the four pumping stations till late last night, alleged Shiv Sewak.
Both the corporators have threatened to launch agitation at the office of the DM if proper arrangements for diesel are not made immediately at the pumping stations.
