Silt isn't the only problem. Drains are clogged mainly by garbage, like coconut shells, thermacole, concrete debris and other forms of waste. There are many spots in the city where garbage isn't handed over to pourakarmikas, but thrown into nearby drains instead.
"We have many chicken shop owners in the city heading to stormwater drains at Nayandahalli at night, with loads of animal waste," says Joswin, a resident of the area. "They dump it into the drain and vanish. This waste should be handed over to empanelled vendors, not just dumped in the open. There are many industries in the area which also dump their waste into the drains."
Construction debris forms a major component of waste in drains. Citizens say BBMP should have a plan for people who wish to clear their concrete debris and the Palike should be able to organise it at a nominal cost.
"As private players demand a lot of money to clear concrete debris, many people are forced to dump it in SWDs," says Kalavani, a resident of Chalwadipalya. "It's a convenient solution for them, and cost-effective too. But what will happen to the environment? We have already seen how this waste affects the free flow of water."
