Bengaluru: Choked drains and rajakaluves have been a pain in the neck for civic officials, especially during monsoon, which often leads to inundation of nearby areas.
One of the main reasons is indiscriminate dumping of garbage on these storm water drains by unscrupulous elements.
After trying various measures to curb this menace, they are now planning to put up meshes at certain points to prevent the garbage from choking the drains.
Despite several appeals to the public not to dump garbage in storm water drains, the menace continues. The BBMP and BWSSB have taken up several cleaning measures, but in vain.
A senior BBMP officer said, “The garbage in the drains has become a major hurdle for the free flow of water. Garbage like the plastic bottles, sanitary napkins, plastic covers and bags, broken furniture are the most common
things dumped in the drain, blocking the flow completely.”
“Now we are thinking of coming up with the idea of tying meshes across the drains, so that the garbage flow is obstructed and gets accumulated at one point, which can be easily collected,” he added.
Another officer mentioned that the idea has been floated and it is still in its nascent stage. “We will have a meeting with the other senior officers and even council members and discuss about the idea to ensure that the drains are not choked with garbage. We should first identify the drains where the mesh can be set up and also the kind of mesh to be used. A detailed design and report will be prepared and will be submitted to the authorities concerned and then we will take the idea further,” the officer said.
When contacted, Mayor Sampath Raj said, “We have been thinking about this idea, but we are not sure to implement, as it will encourage the public to throw garbage into the drains. On the other hand, it will be helpful, as the garbage will get stuck in the mesh and can be disposed easily, as it will get accumulated in the mesh. We will discuss it in the council meeting and take a decision.”
