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Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) In The Dock Over Open Drains

By ugesh sarkar, Section Kolkata Municipal Corporation
Posted on Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 02:59:43 AM EST

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), which had once turned a blind eye to unauthorised constructions that came up in Garden Reach area, is now in a fix.

The civic authorities are unable to cover up the open sewer lines and drains as the work might affect the buildings situated close by.

The matter came to the forefront after a two-year old girl, Sabia, fell into the drain on Wednesday night and died near her residence in Ram Nagar Lane in Garden Reach.

Civic officials claim that the incident could have been averted had there been a cover on the drains. However, such attempts were not possible after civic officials found that the buildings were "dangerously" close to the sewer lines. Hence the civic body was unable to make a bearing to place the cover of the drains without damaging these buildings.

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Even plans to have a u-trap, which acts like a cork, was discarded after it was discovered that the capacity of the drains would be reduced. Plans to have brick sewers were not possible because of the excessive width of the drain. The drain, previously used as a canal, is almost two meters in width and three meters deep. Additional arrangements like creating a slope for the water to pass would require digging and excavation. This would in turn affect the foundation of these buildings.

At present there are 20 kilometres of such open drains in the city with the majority being located in Garden Reach areas, civic officials said.

Civic officials meanwhile, have sought to downplay yesterday's death by claiming that this was only the second such case of drowning in the city over the past three years.

Local councillor and member mayor-in-council (water) Mr Mrinal Kanti Mondal has refused to give compensation to the family of the deceased.
When contacted, mayor Mr Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya, while calling the incident '"unfortunate" said: "We are trying to find a solution to this problem of open and uncovered drains. The Kolkata Environment Improvement Projects that are being undertaken is focussing on the matter."

Statesman News Service 14/July/2008

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