The much dreaded monsoons

The much dreaded monsoons
Sunday June 3 2007 09:08 IST

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BANGALORE: The South West Monsoon (SWM) is coyly tapping at City doors. While, a happy news for most, is a dreadful one for those living in low-lying areas. Not withstanding the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) claims of being ‘battle ready’, those living in fear have little faith in such a stance.

This website’s newspaper made a reality check at Ejipura and Madiwala areas to find out the state of affairs there. The Ejipura residents shiver in fear every monsoon. T A Das, resident of 1st Main, 3rd Cross, said the storm water drainage next to their road invariably overflowed and flooded the houses nearby. Das said the drainage needed to be widened and a barrier constructed to avoid the overflow.

Adding to the woes, people dump garbage in the drain, blocking the free-flow of water. ‘‘We have requested the BBMP many times to no avail,’’ he said. Maadhu, another resident on the same road said, ‘‘There is an outlet for the open drain next to the water tank. When heavy rains hit, the drainage water and the tank water get mixed-up. It is a hard task emptying the tank everytime that happens.’’

Ejipura 8th Cross has a different story. Most of the residents have been staying here for more than a decade. Kodanda, a resident of 14 years said, ‘‘When we constructed a house here, our house was above road level. Years after, the BBMP has raised the road level, putting us at a lower level, resulting in the flooding of our house in the rainy season,’’ he told this website’s newspaper.

He blames the National Games Village constructed next to their road for the situation. ‘‘Earlier, the water used to flow towards the field and after the construction, the water gets blocked and rushes into the house,’’ he added.

Residents at Siddarthanagar slum area at Madiwala too are in a pitiable state.

Most of the houses lie in a lower area. Ashrafbhi, who has been residing in the slum for the past 35 years said no proper provision for outflow of drainage had been made.

All said and done, one does not fail to notice the BBMP workers engaged in removing the slush and mud from the drain near National Games Village Road.