Wilson Garden not ready to face this monsoon too

For twenty years they have braved the garbage and filth and dust and grime that are swept on to their roads and into their homes everytime it rains and they wont trust in better times despite the authorties initiating some steps towards that end.

We are talking of the residents of Wilson Garden, 5th Cross and their clogged gutters. The later being so because it was never cleaned or desilted in the last two decades. Needless to say that the area is an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes.

"Three weeks back, when it rained heavily in the City, our entire road was flooded with more than three feet deep water. This was of course not the first time. We go through such trauma whenever it rains. It is not just the roads. Water enters the houses as well, making the situation even more terrible. The gutters are choked with debris and dirt and the authorities never bothered to clear it," said Srinath H, a resident.

It is learnt that the BBMP is working covering the gutter over the next one month, but residents point out that they have geographical disadvantages too.

"Wilson Garden gets flooded from the waters coming from Siddapura (topographically at an elevated level) Since the gutters are blocked first there will be floods and then water stagnation," said J P Raju, another resident. Desilting is the need of the hour and the civic authority is not taking initiative for it, feels the residents.

The BBMP authorities have a different view. "Previously, it used to be a slab drain of only 0.5 metre. Now, we are planning to remodify the gutters by increasing its capacity. We are going to make it concrete gutter of 1 metre width. We have already desilted the gutters and slabs will be put to cover these within another 2 months," said the Assistant Executive Engineer of BBMP.