Bengaluru: Exactly a year ago a complaint on the portal ichangemycity was registered with the BBMP against the open drainage at Sector 7 of the HSR Layout. But for the local residents there has been no reprieve from the stinking drains, which has also become a garbage dumping site.
The residents of the Sectors 6 and 7 of the HSR Layout get anxious whenever it rains, as the locality turns into a cesspool
“The drainage canal near Srirangam Textiles Showroom is not closed and it has become a breeding centre for mosquitoes. During the first spell of rain earlier this month sewage overflowed from the manholes near McDonalds,” said Prem Kumar, secretary HSR Layout, Sector 7 Residents Welfare Association (RWA).
On being asked if RWA ever took the matter with the civic authorities, Kumar added, “The BBMP continues to maintain that they would do the work. In order to get the issue resolved the RWA of the sector has registered more than one complaint with the BBMP but the only thing we get to hear from the BBMP is, ‘We will resolve the issue as soon as possible’.”
However, S. Venketesh, Assistant Engineer, BBMP exasperatingly said that the drainage work was delayed due to insufficient allocation of funds by the government.
“For the entire HSR Layout only Rs 2.5 crore was allocated, within which we have to take up road work, cleaning of drains and sewage related works,” Venketesh said.
He further said the covering of drains by cemented blocks can only be done next March after the announcement of 2018-2019 state budget.
Meanwhile, the residents at the Layout feel that if the issue is not sorted out soon there is a threat of dengue epidemic in the nearby areas. Moreover, the pungent smell emanating from the drains has compelled the residents to stay indoors in the evening.
A local fruit vendor, who did not want to be named, said, “The stinking drain has forced me to shift the shop, as the customers could not stand the foul odour emanating from the drain.”
