Dumping of debris in drains continue

Dumping of debris in drains continue
Vijay Times

THE initial success of SWORD (Storm W ater Operation for Removal of Debris) in nabbing vehicles dumping debris in drains at night seems to have failed to curb the menace. Despite the eight SWORD vehicles doing their rounds, indiscriminate dumping into the storm water drains (SWDs) and encroachment of drains still continues.

Shrinking of drains along the V rishabhavathi , Challaghatta and Hebbal valleys stand testimony to the problem of encroachment.

U nder the SWORd operation, the vehicles seized are let off with just a warning and are made to be stationed in front of the BCC head office for a day .

A BCC engineer on grounds of anonymity said that, "At times, we are forced to let off some of the vehicles even without levying the fine due to political influence. The politicians should support us in putting an end to the menace of dumping debris in drains." I n some areas like M ysor e R oad and Magadi Road, the contractors get the debris dumped with support from the local police , he alleged. If those caught dumping the debris in drains are not penalised, they will again resort to the same practice . N evertheless, there is no pro vision for BCC officials to fine them, he felt.

Senior officials in the Corporation should have given a thought before launching the SWORD operation. Simultaneously , the vehicles should inform the public about the ill-effects of indiscriminate dumping through awareness programmes at several areas in the City , he added.

AMENDMENT TO KMC A CT LIKEL Y

When Mayor Mumtaz Begum was contacted, she said that a suitable amendment would be brought to the Karnataka M unicipal Corporation (KMC) Act in the BCC Council to empower the officials to penalise the violators.


The SWORD was launched on the lines of Prahari patrolling vehicles to attend to emergencies arising out of natural calamities. The SWORD is fitted with a public announcement system and a wireless communication system. Of the eight vehicles launched, four would maintained by the BCC and the other four would be taken care of by the contractors concerned.