BBMP solution becomes a problem

BBMP solution becomes a problem
While Laying Drainpipes, Workers Damage Communication Cables On Cunningham Road

Bangalore: BBMP’s drainpipes work on Cunningham Road has literally hit rock-bottom. And in the process, telephone lines, water and sewage pipes, electricity supply and traffic movement have also been affected.
The underpass connecting Cunningham Road to Sankey Road requires rainwater drainpipes to allow water collected there to be diverted to Palace Road. In the process of laying the drainpipes, BBMP workers hit a rock and the work was halted.
While trying to force their way around the rock, situated in the middle of the road, workers damaged water pipes, telephone lines and sewage pipes.
Due to this, residents here are facing a lot of inconvenience, including loss of water supply and telephone connectivity, for almost a week.
Even an underground insulated electricity cable was hit, affecting power supply in parts of the area. Radhika M, a resident, said: “We staved off the water crisis by using our borewell. But there have been frequent power cuts for the past week and we are helpless.”
Moreover, a broken sewage pipe has caused mixing of sewage with water. Pritamlal Chanchani, a resident, said: “I had to spend Rs 12,000 to fix the damaged lines to my house as officials did not respond to requests. We had to get our own plumber to fix the water pipes too.” Heavy rainfall over the past couple of days has added to the problem. Rainwater, collecting piled-up mud along its course, flowed into a resident’s house.
“It has caused a personal loss to me as I had to spend to set things right in my basement,” he said.
There has also been severe disruption of traffic due to restrictions on entry and exit of vehicles.
The contractor and BBMP official present at the site, however, merely stated that work was delayed as the rock had to be penetrated using a special HDD (horizontal drilling device) that was ordered and was on its way.
When asked about the inconvenience caused to residents, the official stated that only after completion of the drilling can work on other utilities start, for which Rs 85 lakh is allotted. He said work will be completed by next week.
— Madhukeshwar Desai & Aniketh B C