The Hindu 22.10.2010
CMC to upgrade city water bodies
Correspondent
CUTTACK: Finally the authorities of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) have woken up from deep slumber to spare a thought for the fast disappearing water bodies of the city. Egged on by the Orissa High Court, the civic body is now thinking of upgrading the water bodies as they hold a lot of tourism potential.
In a recently held meeting attended among others by the members of an advocate committee, the CMC Commissioner R.N. Nanda has announced to develop and maintain the water bodies to improve the tourism potential of the city.
It may be mentioned here that over 70 per cent of water bodies in the city have vanished over these years as they have been filled up and used as homestead land.
In an affidavit submitted in the High Court, the State government had informed that there were about 1800 water bodies in the city about 50 years ago.
Of these, exactly 1044 have already been filled up and used for residential purposes. It was also mentioned in the affidavit that the local tehsildar had received applications to fill up another 422 water bodies of which 40 applications are pending disposal.
The water bodies in the city were of great use as they were not only serving to keep the city cool but were acting as water absorbers to keep the city roads and residential areas free from water logging.
The High Court had even directed the authorities, particularly to Cuttack Development Authority to ensure that remaining water bodies in the city are not filled up any more.
