UDAIPUR, May 8 (TIWN) : Due to a lack and vision for making a Master Plan of proper drainage system most parts of Udaipur especially the areas under Udaipur Municipal area remained submerged for more than three hours after a one hour heavy downpour on Thursday morning till 09.30am. As a result of it water entered in many houses disrupting the normal life.

However, at around 10am MLA Radhakishorepur Assembly Constituency Pranajit Singha Roy went out of his house and visited Chhanban, Shantipally, Bhangarpar, Rajarbag, Town Sonamura, Ramesh Chowmahani areas that went under water. At this the administration became active and workers of Udaipur Municipal Council(UMC) were sent to the affected areas to clear the drains. When he came to Shantipally area, he was really shocked to see the careless attitude shown by UMC authorities. He talked to the Executive Officer of Udaipur Municipal Council Nihar Ranjan Das over phone asking him to take immediate steps to improve the water-logged condition. MLA Pranajit Singha Roy expressed his discontent that though the people are suffering none from the Municipality did even think the to visit the affected areas.

   At this the MLA called SDO PWD Goutam Reang, Engineer PWD Dulal Datta and Counicilor Ward No-3 Debdulal Chakraborty to came to the area. They too responded promptly and standing on the road MLA had a one hour meeting with the officials. The local people too came and complained that even after fifteen years neithet PWD nor the then Udaipur Nagar Panchayat took the least care for proper drainage system. MLA said that Govt has proudly declared Udaipur Nagar Panchayat as Municipal Council but the council is yet to provide minimum services to the people. As per urban area rules there should be drains on either side of the road in municipal areas but in Ward No-2,3,4,12,13,14 16,17 and 19 drains are available on one side only making it difficult for passage of water. MLA said Udaipur Nagar Panchayat was a pure failure in that case. He said, after the Assembly Election 2013 MP West Tripura Parliamentary Constituency  Khagen Das criticised Udaipur Nagar Panchayat authority ,during  the first District Level Review Meeting held in the Zila Parishad Conference Hall, for not utilising a single paise from Rs 15 lakh that were allotted to Udaipur Nagar Panchayat from MP Fund to construct drains . In that meeting high officials of District Administration , PWD and DWS were present.

    MLA asked the SDO PWD Goutam Reang to take steps to construct a drain in Ward No 4( in front of the House of Tapan Bhowmik of Chhanban to the House of Tapas Deb, opposit of Kali Temple) immediately because the entire Master Para Shanti Pally area get submerged every year during monsoon. MLA further asked to repair the main road from the House of former minister Joy Gobinda Debroy to the Opposite of Office of DWS (Div-XVIII) as it is unfit for use. SDO PWD Goutam assured the MLA of immediate steps.   MLA also promised that if the Udaipur Municiapl Council releases the vaccant land near Housing Board (which is now unscientifically used as dumping station) , he will allot fund from MLA's Area Development Fund and construct a Children Park. Due unscientific dumping the entire area is being polluted as a bad odour emits from stinking gutters all the time.

   Unfortunately, a TIWN source in DM Gomati's Office told that Udaipur Municipal Coulcil , without thinking for the interests of the people, is making plan to allot the land to DWS Department to construct its new office building though the DWS (Div-XVIII) has adequate space for its office complex. The source also adds that DWS Minister has asked the UMC to release the land to DWD on lease. And UMC is now more keen to please the minister than to think for the welfare of the people living in Chhanban Shantipally and Housing Board areas. The local people too have learnt about this ill motive of the DWS and Municipal Council. Most people are afraid that if the land is used for the construction of the DWS Office it may even hurt the religious sentiments of the people mostly the Hindus because there is a Kali Temple in front of the land ( given by the then Udaipur Nagar Panchayat in consultation with the Sub-Divisional Administration ) .

   Speaking to TIWN Correspondent MLA Pranajit Singha Roy said, " If needed I may consult with the Superintendent Engineer, PWD(Southern Division) or even with the Chief Engineer PWD to release adequate fund for the construction of main road(now in miserable condition) stretching from Chhanban Gada Chowmahani to Jagannath Chowmahani with a diviation connecting the National Highway and the construction of the drain from Master Para to Shantipally Kali Temple adjacent to DWDOffice. " He said it is indeed painful that inspite of paying taxes people living in Municipal areas still deprived of basic requirements like comfortable road connectivity, drainage system etc. Unless a master plan is drawn up immediately the passing of drain water from the town through outlets, Udaipur Town will face serious crisis of proper drainage management with in a year or so.