Work on remodelling storm water drains proceeding at a snail's pace

Work on remodelling storm water drains proceeding at a snail's pace Slow progress in work on storm water drains

The Hindu

Only 20 per cent of the work has been completed

# The proposals were chalked out in April 2005
# BMP could clear only some encroachments on drains

Bangalore: People have had it good this year. Civic authorities are thanking the rain god. Rains this monsoon have not been heavy and water logging and sewage overflow have not been as common an occurrence as last year.

This has helped the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP), which is in a major renovation mode of the storm water drains that run along the four valleys of the city — Koramangala, Hebbal, Challaghatta and Vrishbhavathi.

The BMP has drawn up four project proposals under the National Urban Renewal Mission, amounting to Rs. 678 crore, to remodel storm water drains in the city. The proposals, in official jargon, come under the comprehensive plan called remodelling of storm water drains that the BMP had chalked out in April 2005. What the jargon translates into is strengthening of the drains so that they do not clog and overflow.

But the progress has been slow with several hurdles along the way. Harsh Gupta, Joint Commissioner (Works), said on Friday that about 20 per cent of the work has been completed.

Problems

The hurdles are many. Buildings coming up on the drains have reduced the width of the latter at many places in the city. Identifying and removing them has been a major task, and the BMP has succeeded in clearing about 60 such illegal encroachments only. Retention walls, many of which have collapsed or are weak, enclose the storm water drains. Work on strengthening the walls and concreting the bed of these drains is under way.

But this work has hit a roadblock. Along the 230 km of storm water drains, sewage enters the storm water drains at 60 km, according to Mr. Gupta. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is in the process of identifying a consultant to recommend where the sewage lines could be shifted to on the 60-km stretch.

The BMP had planned to build rainwater harvesting pits inside the drains, so that water could percolate into the soil. "But we have not been able to build them as the sewage enters the drains," Mr. Gupta said.

The BMP was also waiting for the BWSSB to identify spots for the final disposal of sewage. At most places where the sewage lines end, the waste is let into storm water drains as there are not enough treatment plants.