Bengaluru: Though Shantinagar has one of the more active Resident Welfare Associations in Bengaluru, the same cannot be said of local officials. Last year, the area witnessed flash floods and rain water entered homes. "Monsoon season is just a month away and the storm water drain remains clogged due to garbage dumping. We are terrified of the drain water overflowing again, especially in Lakshmi Road. Though the officials got it cleaned last time after floods, they have not maintained it," said Prasad, President of the Association.
After the 2016 deluge and repeated complaints, the authorities widened the drain to clear the bottlenecks. The residents said the AEE had even promised that the contract would involve maintenance of the drain.
Shantinagar residents fear that if storm water drains are not cleared soon they may face flooding during this monsoon (Photo: Shashidhar B)
"Used bathtub, plastic, tyres, mattresses, peg bottles are the kind of garbage we find here. In a meeting with the Bengaluru Development Minister K.J. George, we suggested putting wire mesh or filter to protect the SWD from waste dumping. They agreed, but haven't done anything," Prasad lamented.
Water stagnation is also resulting n breeding of mosquitoes. Prasad and many others residents suffered viral arthritis, caused by the same Dengue mosquitoes.
"The Chief Engineer inspected the drain three months ago, promising to place a mesh or barricade in 15 days. This hasn't happened and no measures have been taken against illegal dumping of waste," said Dennis Dsouza. He said that after 4 pm, it is not possible to be on the road without getting bitten by mosquitoes.
"A tender was called for desilting of drains, but to no effect. There is no segregation of waste. From plastic to school bags, anything is dumped in the drain. At this rate, our houses will get flooded this June," Dennis said.
‘Garbage is being segregated, desilting work is on’
Interview with Shantinagar Corporator, P Sowmya
Residents say garbage is being dumped in Storm Water Drains.
These are lies. We have worked to create awareness on waste segregation and disposal, through 2 bin 1 bag programme. Shantinagar does most segregation. There might be people from adjoining ward, coming on their two-wheelers at night and dumping bags of waste. It is not possible to catch them.
Residents complain that desilting and cleaning has not happened. Why?
The desilting is going on for many roads. After the 2016-17 budget, allocation, estimation and all took a lot of time. Every year we clean drains, but the next time we come to do it, garbage has been dumped.
Why have you not used a wire mesh, as promised?
Rs 150 crore has been allotted in total, for placing wire mesh over the storm water drain of many constituencies, including this one. If this were a Corporation grant, work could begin quickly, but this is from the Nagarottana scheme. Due to poor co-ordination between PWD, BBMP, BWSSB, etc and umpteen approvals in the cabinet, issuing tenders, finalizing contractor, it all takes up time.
What is the solution?
The work to place wire mesh at multiple constituencies has been given to a contractor and sub-contractors are being hired for smaller divisions. For Shantinagar RWAward, work will start in June. On the whole, work will be done in 3 to 4 months.
