The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has scheduled a series of meetings to assess the civic body's readiness for the upcoming rainy season. The first meeting, slated for Monday, will focus on waterlogging black spots in north Kolkata. MLAs from Cossipore-Belgachhia, Jorasanko, Beleghata, and Chowringhee, along with councillors from wards 1 to 59, have been invited to attend.
Focus on Chronic Waterlogging Areas
During the meeting, MLAs and councillors will be asked for their suggestions on preventing flooding and ensuring rapid clearance of accumulated stormwater. Special attention will be given to chronic trouble spots such as Dum Dum, Cossipore-Belgachhia, and Thanthania-Amherst Street. The KMC drainage department will use the feedback to create a comprehensive blueprint for tackling waterlogging during the monsoon season.
Concerns Over Ongoing Construction
A civic drainage department official expressed particular concern about Thanthania-Amherst Street due to the ongoing construction of a drainage pumping station at Hrishikesh Park. Several parts of Amherst Street have been dug up to lay drainage pipelines that will connect nearby neighborhoods to the new pumping station. The official stated, "We are trying our best to complete the project by July. As an alternative arrangement, we will keep portable pumps ready to flush out storm water from Amherst Street, College Street, Sukeas Street, and Thanthania." Other areas of concern include Beleghata, Maniktala, and Ultadanga.
Government Intervention in Civic Services
The new state government's second cabinet meeting addressed the "collapse of civic services" in many municipal corporation areas controlled by the Trinamool Congress. An overwhelming majority of urban local bodies in the state, including the KMC, Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC), and Howrah Municipal Corporation, are under Trinamool. However, the party's electoral reverses in several zones and the defeat of Trinamool functionaries have reportedly led to a decline in civic services, prompting cabinet intervention.
Following the change in the West Bengal government, civic services and the functioning of municipal corporations in Kolkata and the adjoining urban belt have been thrown into uncertainty. Bidhannagar and Howrah have emerged as stark examples of administrative drift, stalled projects, and public dissatisfaction.
