If a drainage line overflows, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation takes the easy way out of releasing sewage into the storm-water drains. At many places, slums divert their sewage into storm-water drains.

More than 250 housing colonies and slums in the city are forced to put up with the foul smell. ``We have got used to it,'' says Tushar Shah, who lives near the Ruparel drain in the eastern part of the city.

And Narendra Rajput, who lives at Somabhai Ni Chali, says people contract fever and cough and other diseases because of the release of sewage.

In Kishanwadi, the discharge of sewage into storm-water drains increases during peak hours. Residents of Paras Society are fed up. Said Kankuben Patel, ``Life is miserable here, because of the stench.''

The scene is no different in Makarpura, Sama, Nizampura, Manjalpur, and many other areas that lie near storm-water drains. Kanu Vyas of Uma Colony on Waghodia Road said repeated requests had fallen on deaf ears. ``The VMC was covering up the Ruparel drain, but the work is half done,'' he added.

Kokila Shah, another resident, said it was a blessing in disguise that it hadn't rained much this year. ``Had it rained our house would have been flooded with sewage.''

What is the reason for VMC releasing sewage into storm-water drains? ``Our 30-year-old main drainage line has collapsed, and VMC has no option but release sewage into storm-water drains,'' says executive engineer V N Tailor, acknowledging the situation. ``Nearly 900 metres of drainage line are not functioning in Kishanwadi.''

There are other problems: if at some places, drainage lines cannot cope with the amount of sewage released, at some other places the connecting lines between auxiliary pumping stations and sewage treatment plants aren't of wide enough bore.

A top civic officer, requesting anonymity, said that in the last few years, VMC concentrated on augmenting water supply but did not look into the problems of discharge of sewage. According to official figures, 30 per cent areas in the city do not have drainage lines. Sources say, on a given day, VMC uses nearly 20 pumps to release sewage into storm-water drains.

Lokshahi Morcha councillor Chandrakant Shrivastav and Congress councillor Shailesh Mehta agree that this has been going on for several years. While Shrivastav blames it on the paucity of funds, Mehta advocates the need to take up the issue on top priority. ``You just can't stand for five minutes near the drain.''

``It is serious,'' admits Standing Committee chairperson Dr Jigeesha Sheth. Regretting that the residents have to bear mosquito and pig menace apart from the foul smell, she says it might take another five years to set the system right.

Admitting the problem, city engineer B.S. Trapasia said that an interim report of consultants AIC Watson on a drainage master plan had come in.