The district administration has decided to set up three water pumping stations in Sambalpur town to pump out flood water from low lying areas. Every year during monsoon, the town is flooded by overflowing Dhobijoar nullah which runs through Sambalpur town. The Housing and Urban Development Department has sanctioned `2.95 crore for the purpose and the proposed water pumping stations will be located at Binakhandi, Balibandha and Chandan Nagar, all along river Mahanadi to ensure that the flood water flows down the river.
The pumping stations will ease off water-logging problem in the low lying areas of the town, said Municipal Engineer of Sambalpur Municipality Basanta Padhi. He said the Odisha Construction Corporation (OCC) will execute the pumping stations which will be installed with high power motors and pumps. Public Health and Engineering wing and Irrigation Department had been assigned to take up construction of the pumping stations. But, with both of them expressing their inability, OCC was moved and it has agreed to execute the work. A team of OCC officials will visit Sambalpur soon to undertake preliminary survey.
During monsoon, water level in river Mahanadi flows at a height above the sluice gates constructed at three points to discharge effluents from the town into river Mahanadi. To ensure that the water from the river does not enter the town, the sluice gates are closed and it leads to water-logging and deluge in low lying areas of the town. Although the Municipality has deployed water pumps in the past to release water into the river, installation of three pumps is expected to provide permanent solution to the problem.
This will bring relief to the residents of Charbati, Mandlia, Chandan Nagar, Binakhandi, Balibandha, Govindtola, Bahalpada in Sakhipara, Hirakud Colony, Housing Board Colony, Mudipada, Kumbharpara besides other low lying areas.
