Drain Cleaning Underway in City Ahead of Monsoon, Officials Ordered to Inspect Sump Houses

Patna: The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has begun clearing city drains in preparation for the monsoon, with officials ordered to ensure all sump house motors are in working condition.

Municipal Commissioner Animesh Kumar Parashar conducted an unannounced inspection of the Saidpur drain on Monday, walking its length from the Pahari sump house to its endpoint to assess the progress of cleaning efforts.

Stretching from the Bankipur zone’s sump house (2,400m) to Shani Chara Mor in the Azimabad zone (3,500m), the Saidpur drain is a key part of the city’s drainage system. During the inspection, Parashar directed officials to check the motors of all sump houses to prevent waterlogging. Additional municipal officials, engineers, and representatives from the municipal corporation and BUIDCO were present.

Delays in Cleaning Work Draw Scrutiny

Parashar also inspected the inlets and outlets of the Saidpur and Pahari sump houses, stressing the need for timely silt removal. Although excavators had been deployed for the work, they were reportedly operational for only a few hours.

With progress lagging despite the availability of resources, the commissioner sought an explanation from officials in the Azimabad and Bankipur zones. He emphasised the importance of completing pre-monsoon cleaning work without delays to avoid potential flooding in the city.