The Trinamool-run Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) — north Bengal’s largest civic body — has started taking steps ahead of monsoon to prevent waterlogging in the city.

As the monsoon sets in, it will also jointly work with the state departments of irrigation and disaster management.

Mayor Gautam Deb said on Monday that they prepared a database with details of areas that get waterlogged during monsoon. It has been prepared after viewing the records of the past three years in all 47 wards of the SMC.

“As the monsoon rainfall starts in this region, our conservancy department will work with disaster management and irrigation departments of the state so that people plagued by waterlogging can be addressed at the earliest,” he said.

In Bhupendranagar, Prakashnagar and Tinbatti localities, many people live close to the rivers and rivulets, he said. “During monsoon, water levels rise and residents suffer. We have requested the irrigation and disaster management departments to take protective measures so that houses don’t get flooded,” Deb added.

The SMC stocked up on relief materials and readied its three pump sets to clear accumulated water from affected localities, he added.

The state irrigation department has taken the task up to clear debris from Fuleswari, Jorapani, Maheshmari and Panchnoi rivulets that flow through the city.

The debris is lifted from the bed of these rivulets and disposed of at the SMC dumping yard.

“We have formed a special task force to monitor garbage disposal from these rivulets so that dumping wastes can be done without creating inconvenience for residents,” Deb said.

He said that work to clear clogged drains across Siliguri has started. “The SMC will soon launch an extensive drive to stop the use of plastic carry bags and polystyrene (thermocol) in markets across the civic area. These cause pollution and block drains and rivulets,” Deb added.