SWDs yet to be cleaned up

SWDs yet to be cleaned up
Vijay Times

RESIDENTS of Koramangala, Ejipura and its surrounding areas may have to put up with problems that are likely to be caused during this monsoon too, as the Bangalore City Corporation (BCC) is yet to complete all the tasks listed under its minimum mandatory programme.

The programme seeks to protect vulnerable areas in the City from the wrath of the monsoon.

The sad state of affairs persist, thanks to BCC contractors who are yet to complete the task of desilting the primary and secondary Storm W ater Drains (SWDs) of the Koramangala Main V alley .

It may be recalled that the Koramangala Main V alley was also considered for remodelling under package two (Infant Jesus Church to Belandur T ank).

Ashwini Layout, S T Bed, parts of Jakkasandra, Indira Gandhi slum, Friends Colony and several other areas in Koramangala and Ejipura wards were the worst affected last year .

"Even today , if it rains heavily , it becomes a water world. According to the agreement signed between the BCC and the contractor , work should have begun on April 12, 2005 and completed by October this year ," says Ashwini Layout Residents’ Association convenor M V K Anil Kumar .

"The contract has been awarded to Chandragiri constructions. The work is yet to pick up momentum. However , the sad part is that BCC engineers claim that desilting work has been completed. If what they say is true, then why is it that one can still find weeds and silt in the valley ," he asked.

Ejipura Residents’ W elfare Association president S J Alcanther said, "The authorities concerned had demolished the drain wall three years back to facilitate the entry of a JCB, which was on its way to desilt a drain, into Ejipura. The wall wasn’t rebuilt. However , the contractor claimed that the wall had been rebuilt and the bill was also passed." " T h e B a n g a l o r e W ater Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has laid sewerage pipes in Ejipura in such a way that they lead to SWDs." "Illegal encroachments along SWDs are hindering the remodelling process. For instance, the building, Builders NGV Club, has been built over the Koramangala Main V alley though former BCC mayor P R Ramesh had ordered those constructing it to stop work in June 2004," he alleged.


STRATEGY MEET

T alking to BVT , BCC commissioner K Jairaj said, "I have called for a meeting of the engineers and contractors concerned on Saturday to review the ongoing works and to expedite the same. The contractors will be asked to work round-the-clock to finish desilting by June 15." On allegations that sewerage was being directed into SWDs, he said, "Ive discussed the issue with BWSSB chairman N C Muniyappa and have asked him to get such sewage pipes removed. The chairman has assured to do so. However, work will commence only after the rainy season." Jairaj also assured that the Club issue would be looked into and stringent action would be taken against encroachers.