Mayor raises hell over clogged drains

Mayor raises hell over clogged drains
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) and the Banagalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) have now locked horns over drain issue in Mayor’s ward.

The BWSSB has a week’s time to clear all the sewage outlets in the storm water drains at the Shivajinagar or else Mayor Mumtaz Begum threatens to sit in dharna.

The Mayor was on a visit to the OPS Road in her ward on Thursday to inspect the ongoing work on drains. Begum accused the BWSSB officials of letting sewage lines into the drains, which are dedicated to carry rainwater.

The construction work of making concrete drains was slow as the contractors refused to clear the sewage lines in the drain. The project has been taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 23 lakhs.

“I have brought the problem to the notice of BWSSB Chairman and higher officials, who attend BMP Council meeting, but all in vain. Similar problem has been noticed on Commercial Street, Narayana Pillai Street, Veera Pillai Street, Kamaraj Road and Jumma Masjid Road,” said Mumtaz Begum.

“I have asked BWSSB to clear the sewage connections in a week’s time. If they fail, I will sit in dharna along with local residents and shop keepers,” she added.

Later, the Mayor visited Russell Market and inspected the garbage dumping yard and the fish market.

She said that it was difficult for BMP to clear the garbage on regular basis because of acute shortage of garbage dumping site on City outskirts.

She pointed out that the supervising officers are not taking initiative to finish the work of garbage dumping yard in Mavalli.