KOLKATA: From plastic packets to diapers, from tyres and water bottles to construction materials, Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC) authorities said they have stumbled up on debris choking the drainage lines in Salt Lake as they started cleaning up the gully pits.
“It is not possible for the civic body alone to rectify this unless the people are made aware of the problem,” said BMC board of administrators chairperson Krishna Chakraborty.
"We, too, will have to behave a little more responsibly. Proper disposal of waste is important throughout the year; it becomes even more so during the monsoon.-TimesView"
In the last few days, the civic authorities have been working on opening and cleaning the gully pits and drainage lines to ensure that excess storm water gets flushed out after heavy showers. “Kestopur canal has overflowed during heavy rain. The choked drainage lines are adding to the problem,” said a civic official, urging residents not to dump waste on the road.
Environment experts said plastic waste is not only choking the drainage lines, but also causing bigger hazards. “It is the non bio-degradable waste which is mostly being dumped, creating a layer of plastic. This is getting converted into micro plastic, which clogs pipelines and eventually becomes toxic and affects the soil layers. Massive awareness among the people is needed to prevent this,” said environment scientist Swati Nandi Chakraborty.
“The drainage lines in Salt Lake are straining under population pressure. Moreover, the dumped plastic trash is going into the sewer lines and clogging the drains. It is high time that segregation of bio-degradable and non bio-degradable waste is done properly to prevent this haphazard dumping of waste. A comprehensive plan in this regard is the need of the hour,” said Tamal Pal, a resident of HB Block.
BMC authorities said they will be conducting a survey on which areas have witnessed the most waterlogging this monsoon and will look into the existing drainage system of those places to prepare a revamp plan.
As for round-the-clock monitoring in the next few days with forecast of heavy rain and a cyclonic circulation, BMC has set up a control room at its headquarters in Salt Lake’s FD Block and has provided a list of officers who can be contacted for specific locations across the township during an emergency. “Our team will be ready to cut and remove trees if they get uprooted on the road and we are also urging residents to stock up on water and other essentials,” said a civic official.
