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.