No kidding! Drain to become a park

No kidding! Drain to become a park
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: Foul stench emanating from drains, dumped debris, overflowing sewage is what is associated with drains. But the BBMP is making an effort to turn a drain into an amusement spot.
As a pilot study, the BBMP has taken up a stretch of 6.7 km of Vrishbhavathi Valley (storm water drain) stretching between Peenya and Jnanabharati Campus off Mysore road for a facelift.
The stretch is comparitively less polluted and so has been chosen for restoration. The sullage water will be treated by establishing two Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) along the stretch to keep water fresh and free from stench. All these will be completed at an estimated cost of Rs 80 crore.
The Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JN-NURM) will fund the project. The project has been planned on the lines of Sabarmati river front development in Ahmedabad. The river is being developed into a recreational zone.
The BBMP plans to provide cultural and recreational facilities viz public information centre with multimedia gallery, open art gallery, public awareness court, food court, BangaloreOne kiosks, botanical garden for endangered species of herbs, medicinal herbal garden, urban forest and musical fountain.
The treated water will be used effectively for non-potable purposes. Ornamental plants will be grown on either side of the drain.
Clearing encroachments on the drains will be another challenging task, admitted officials.
Private land may be acquired for setting up treatment plants, said officials.