More Meetings but Still no Solution for Water-logging

Patna: July 19, 2008

With more rain drenching Patna on Friday night, water-logging situation in Patna became worse as authorities on Saturday urged the residents of Kankarbagh and Rajendra Nagar to evacuate the area to avoid catching water-borne disease while also stepping up relief operation by deploying more water pumps and boats in the region.

Situation in Kadam Kuan, Lohanipur, Nala Road, Congress Maidan, Jagat Narayan Road, Park Road, Daldali, Bakerganj, Gola Road, Dariapur, Sabzibagh were not any better where people had to wade in more than a foot of water to reach any shop for day-to-day items.

Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who held a meeting with Urban Development Minister Bhola Prasad Singh, Patna Municipal Corporation Commissioner Mihir Kumar Singh and other government officials on Saturday to review the water accumulation problem on Patna streets, said he had directed the electricity board to ensure round the clock supply of power to enable relief workers to utilize pumps and other equipment being used to drain out water from the affected areas.

Modi also ordered purchase of more powerful pumps to combat the hellish conditions in Patna that has exposed the government's inadequacy and lack of any concrete plan to free the state capital from such predicament year after year.

The meeting was also attended by Legislators Arun Kumar Sinha, Nitin Navin, Patna Mayor Sanjay Kumar and Bihar Health Secretary Deepak Kumar.

PMC Commissioner said that while things were looking up in Kankarbagh thanks to a number of pumping machines and deployment of fire trucks in the area, residents of Rajendra Nagar were not so lucky particularly after more rain on Friday night.

Mayor Kumar held a meeting of his own that was attended by non-experts and inept local politicians who gave their own 'expert opinions' to deal with the situation.

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders and supporters, under the direction of Ram Kripal Yadav, MP, organized a relief operation in Kankarbagh and distributed packets containing chura, gud, and other essential items.