CMC to HC: 280 pumps to deal with waterlogging in Cuttack

Cuttack: The Cuttack municipal corporation (CMC) has informed the Orissa high court that 280 motor pumps will be deployed as part of the emergency contingency plan chalked out to check possible waterlogging in various parts of the city because of the ongoing monsoon.
These high-power diesel pumps, which range from 5HP to 24HP, have been earmarked for low-lying areas prone to inundation caused by overflowing drains.
A dozen of them have been installed at permanent pumping stations at chronic waterlogging spots and the rest are portable ones. While 211 of the dewatering pumps are already in place, the rest are in the process of being positioned in allocated locations.
CMC submitted the contingency plan while the special bench for adjudicating on PILs concerning civic problems in Cuttack city was monitoring pre-monsoon measures on June 21.
As per the court’s order to effectively address the issue of waterlogging, principal secretary of urban development department, G Mathi Vathanan, appeared via video conferencing. Vathanan assured the court that problems arising out of waterlogging are resolved. He also told the court that he would pass necessary instruction in this regard and said efficient officers would be assigned to look into these issues under the guidance of the CMC commissioner.
Taking it on record, the special bench of Justice S K Sahoo and Justice V Narasingh fixed June 27 for further taking stock of the progress in implementation of the contingency plan.
According to the contingency plan, nearly a hundred locations have been identified for positioning of a high range of water pumps, which are capable of an output of 24 HP.