Drains, the new dumping ground
Removing the silt and de clogging too won’t help

Bengaluru: The city’s notorious garbage pile ups may soon choke its drainage systems after December 1, the deadline to stop dumping garbage in Mandur landfill.
Though the dumping of garbage in storm water drains (SWD) has been a perennial problem in the city, of late it has worsened in areas such as Ejipura, Austin Town, Shivajinagar, Pai Layout, HAL II Stage, Jogupalya and HBR Layout.
This could intensify after December 1, as an easy way to get rid of garbage is by dumping them in SWDs and vacant plots, worry solid waste management officials of the BBMP.
In Someshvarapura Layout in Jogupalya, the drain at 3rd cross has been clogged by garbage for three weeks, complains Venugopal. A, a resident.
“When pourakarmikas don’t come to collect garbage many residents dump the garbage in the drain, and shockingly, on some occasions, even the pourakarmikas dump garbage inside the drain. Our complaints have fallen on deaf ears,” he said.
In HBR Layout II Stage the main storm water drain has been clogged with construction debris for months. Though a complaint was filed with the assistant executive engineer Jagadish, no action has been taken so far, said Mike. C, a resident.
“From meat waste to household junk like old furniture, chairs and mattresses everything can be found in the storm water drain. The drain has become a mini ‘gujari’ (junkyard) for the locals here. We are worst affected during rainy season,” he complained.
These residents are wondering that if the situation is already so bad, what could happen after December 1. The BBMP has washed off its hands claiming that dumping garbage in drains is an ongoing process and there’s nothing much it could do.
Chief Engineer for storm water drains Ananthaswamy said, “Garbage dumping is prevalent at all the drains. Removing the silt and de-clogging too won’t help.
People dump garbage just minutes after we de-clog the drains and we know there maybe solid waste management problems after December 1, but we are not equipped to curb this menace.”