Replay of monsoon woes forecast here

Replay of monsoon woes forecast here
Deccan Herald

Is a sequel to last year’s october floods waiting to happen this monsoon? Residents of Bilekahalli, Ramanashree and Someshwara layouts on Bannerghatta Road feel this possibility is steadily turning true in their area.

Over 2,000 square feet of land is submerged in sewage water, all because land developers have blocked the water channel from Bilekahalli to Raja Canal. The 20-feet wide valley near Ranka Apartments on Bannerghatta Road which carries all the sewage water of J P Nagar and other adjacent areas has been narrowed down considerably by private builders, says Kumar, a resident of Ramanashree layout. The developers have also raised the landscape to a height of seven to ten feet rendering the layouts, that comprise 150 sites, as ‘low-lying’ areas, he alleges.

“The encroachments have been steadily increasing in the last one year. As the connecting channels are obstructed, water has stagnated, resulting in mixing of sewage and drinking water.

“Two bores have already been affected due to this,” adds Shripal, member of Bilekahalli Residents’ Welfare Association.

“We fear flooding each time it rains. We will have no choice but to vacate our houses this rainy season. Large quantity of sewage water is accumulated at the other side of the compound wall of the layout. Any breach of compound wall will definitely bring the sewage water into our houses,” Shripal feared.

The members of Bilekahalli Residents’ Welfare Association are now planning to stage a dharna outside the office of the Commissioner of CMC Bommanahalli on May 2 to highlight their grievances. “We want the CMC to intervene and stop these land developers from blocking drainage routes without making alternative channels. If they do not take any action now, we will be homeless during the rains,” said Kumar.