Bengaluru: Footpaths down the drain at HSR

BENGALURU: The residents of HSR Layout Sector 6 and 7 dread rains. They claim the drains have not been desilted for the last 15 years. As a result, whenever it rains sewage enters homes in the vicinity. On the other hand, BBMP has broken the pavements to enable the Storm Water Drain department to carry out the work, but since August there has been no progress.

With the civic agency leaving the drainage works mid-way at HSR Layout Sector 6 and 7, the entire locality is now worried as the drains have become a threat to residents health.

After the inundation of the two sectors in the month of August,  Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had visited the Layout and assured of a preventive measures.

“We are waiting for the desilting of drains. The condition is so precarious that sewage is entering the Storm Water Drain. The residents are getting affected by water-borne diseases,” said Pushpa Kumar, a resident.

Every downpour brings misery to residents, but repeated requests to the civic agencies and the local corporator has fallen on deaf ears.

On the other hand the BBMP broke the pavements so that the Storm Water Drain (SWD) department can take up the work, but since August no progress has been made.

Pushpa says the residents are finding it difficult to even reach their houses and the businessmen cannot run the shops as the pavements have been completely destroyed.

The residents claimed that they had moved in to this Layout as it was newly constructed and would be free from civic issues. But whenever it rains the sewage enters the residential houses.

One of the residents, Murthy Indrakanrti recently took part in a walkathon at HSR to highlight the apathy of the residents in the layout believes that if the BWSSB addresses the issues, a major percentage of the problem can be solved.

“The sewage coming from Manganapalya and Bommanahalli chokes the SWD. There are five major drains in the layout, but for the past 15 years, they were never desilted. The sewage is on the roads,” Murthy added.

 It is further alleged that the pavements near the houses of influential residents have been left. However, while carrying out the desilting in some drains, the BBMP broke the water and sewage pipes of some of the houses.

The commuters are vulnerable to the shoddy work executed by the civic agencies. The two sectors have become more accident prone as the walkers are compelled to use the street and there is a continuous threat of vehicles meeting with an accident as footpath have been dug up.

Sunil K., a resident of Sector 6 lambasted at the lackadaisical approach of the civic agencies.

“The drains are not even covered. Most of the senior citizens are forced to stay indoors as there is hardly a sign of footpath,” he further elucidates.

By next monsoon, things will be back in place: Siddegowda, BBMP Chief Engineer, Bommanahalli zone

The drains have not been desilted. When can we expect things to be back in place?
It will be done by next monsoon. The storm water drain department is responsible for carrying out the desilting work and they have started the process.

The pavements have been broken since September, but no progress has been made on the drainage work. Why?
We have broken the slabs so that drainage work can be carried out. It will be repaired soon after the storm water drain department completes the work. 

Are there plans for taking up zonal work?
Yes, we have called for tenders next week within which the pavement and construction of roads will be taken up. We hope to finish the work before next monsoon.