Patna: The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has stepped up its pre-monsoon preparedness measures, with the Municipal Commissioner conducting inspections across several wards in the Nutan Rajdhani and Bankipur zones to review drainage infrastructure, desilting operations and ongoing civic projects.
The inspections, carried out on June 5, were conducted in the presence of ward councilors and officials from concerned departments. The review focused on preventing waterlogging and ensuring the smooth functioning of the city’s drainage network before the onset of the monsoon.
Damaged Manhole Identified in Vardhaman Area
During an inspection in the Vardhaman area of Ward No. 19, officials found that a key manhole had been damaged during construction work undertaken by the Bridge Construction Corporation.
According to PMC, the damage has affected drainage in the Mithapur B-Type locality and adjoining areas of Ward No. 18, contributing to water accumulation. The Municipal Commissioner directed the Bridge Construction Corporation and BUIDCO to construct a new manhole on priority.
As a temporary measure, the Executive Officer of the Nutan Rajdhani Zone was instructed to arrange pumping wherever required to maintain drainage.
Road and Drain Projects Reviewed
The Municipal Commissioner also inspected the road construction project connecting Jhunjhun Mahal Janata Road to the Bypass in Ward No. 16. The executing agency was directed to complete the work by June 15 to minimise inconvenience to residents during the rainy season.
In Ward No. 15, the ongoing box drain construction project in the Brahmasthan area, being executed by BUDCO, was reviewed. Officials were instructed to complete the remaining work before the monsoon to facilitate uninterrupted rainwater discharge and reduce the risk of waterlogging.
Desilting Work Assessed
Drain desilting operations in areas including Kadamkuan and Bhanwar Pokhar were also inspected.
The Municipal Commissioner personally examined silt levels at various locations to assess the quality of the cleaning work and directed officials to ensure that desilting activities meet prescribed standards.
Bakerganj Drain Obstructions to Be Removed
During a visit to the Pirmuhani sump in Ward No. 36, the Municipal Commissioner directed BUDCO officials to remove all obstructions in the Bakerganj drain and restore normal water flow by June 15.
Officials noted that construction activities under the Bakerganj Drain-cum-Road Project have temporarily disrupted water movement at certain points. The Municipal Commissioner emphasised that the effective functioning of the Pirmuhani sump is critical for drainage management in the area and instructed that all blockages be cleared before the monsoon.
Covered Manholes Raise Concerns
In Ward No. 38, inspections of the A.N. Path and Congress Maidan area revealed that several existing manholes had been covered during road surfacing work carried out by the Road Construction Department.
PMC officials said such obstructions could affect the drainage system in the future. The Municipal Commissioner directed officials to coordinate with the Road Construction Department to identify and repair all damaged or covered manholes without delay.
Officials Directed to Meet Deadlines
The inspection was attended by Ward Councilors Shashi Bhushan (Ward No. 15), Jai Prakash Singh (Ward No. 16), Sharda Devi (Ward No. 19), Rajkapoor Sharma (Ward No. 36) and Ashish Kumar Sinha (Ward No. 38), along with engineers and officials from the concerned departments.
The Municipal Commissioner instructed all executing agencies and civic officials to complete pending works within the stipulated timelines and ensure coordinated efforts to make the city’s drainage system fully operational before the monsoon, with the aim of reducing waterlogging and related disruptions for residents.
