CAN YOU GIVE TWO SUGGESTIONS TO PREVENT OVERFLOWING OF DRAINS?

CAN YOU GIVE TWO SUGGESTIONS TO PREVENT OVERFLOWING OF DRAINS?
‘Desilt drains on a war footing Most readers want drains to be cleaned regularly and covered properly, and heavy fine levied on offenders

Cover drains
Ensure drains are properly covered, so that people don’t have much of a chance of throwing garbage in them. Evict food and juice vendors from footpaths since they tend to dump waste like crushed sugarcane, plastic cups, etc. into them. I G PADMANABHAN
Public should be told not to dump solid waste in drains. Close all open drains. I AYUB S
To prevent people from dumping garbage in drains, cover drains with large wires or thin rod meshes or grills. Periodically clear these meshes of large polythene bags, etc. I THOMAS VERGHESE
Drains should be widened — raise height and depth of drains so that there is sufficient space to enable free flow of storm water. Cover the top of drains with concrete slabs leaving openings at frequent intervals for inspection. I N S NAGARAJ
Clear drains of debris, tires, and plastic bags. Cover drains with metal mesh wherever they are open. I LATA KASHIKAR
Construct drains using magicbox technology connecting to the side drains. In flood-prone areas, including BSK II Stage, make it mandatory to cover the side drains with perforated straps. Mercilessly remove the encroachment on rajakaluves and also on lake beds. Let development authorities develop existing lakes but not destroy them, just to favour the land mafia. Create more lakes wherever feasible. I R GURU RAO
Panipuri vendors and street hawkers dump waste into drains. Take strict action against them. Desilt and clear drains regularly. Cover drains with cement slabs. I VIMALA KESARI
We should pass an ordinance to prevent construction material, especially sand, from being piled on the roads. Where possible, let us cover our drains and make them footpaths or green spaces. Let us begin with a programme to segregate all sewage from storm water. I VIVEK MENON
Clean and maintain drains regularly
Clean drains every day. This is the only solution to manage overflowing drains.
I ANONYMOUS
The BBMP should clear drains regularly. I KAVERI
Use plastic judiciously and intelligently. Banning plastic bags is quite impractical. Civic bodies play a role in designing and maintaining the drains well. And that needs to be done
not just during the monsoons, but throughout the year. I IBA
Clogging can be prevented with a properly planned drainage system across the city. Box drainage system should be adopted and garbage disposal should be totally separated from the drains. I RAJEEV SEETHARAM
Identify drains which are blocked often. Use latest technology like hydraulic pressures to remove the blockage and conduct routine checks on drains during the rainy season. I N B VISHWANATH
A dedicated team must assess the situation and look into the existing drains and dumping of construction materials in drains must be checked. With the monsoon already here, the immediate focus should be on low-lying areas, private participation could work in projects involving garbage disposal and drain restructuring. I TARUN K JAIN
Clean drains regularly, at least twice a week. Remove the silt and put it in a landfill immediately. I I RAMAN
The drains have to be maintained properly by regularly and thoroughly cleaning them. The use of polythene bags should be discontinued. I D R PRAKASH
Replace outdated drainage system with particular thrust on low-lying areas. Outsourcing drainage maintenance to a reputed agency is a better choice. Effective long-lasting solution is preferred to a symbolic, seasonal, ritual operations. I MANJUNATH
Transfer recovered garbage and silt to landfills
I fail to understand why municipalities do not construct rainwater harvesting pits at regular intervals along the drains. Drains will become dry and water will also return to the earth. Also, when the garbage is removed from drains, it is just dumped on the sides till it’s collected by a hand cart the next day. During this time, half the garbage returns to the drains. So, the garbage cleaner and the cart must move together. I DEEPAK VAIDYA
At present, the silt cleared from drains is dumped along the drain. When it rains, the silt goes back into the drain and starts obstructing the free flow of water. Instead, muck from such drains should be moved at least half a kilometre away. Illegal construction of works over the drains should be stopped immediately, whatever the pressure from influential persons. Directly recruit engineers instead of deputing engineers for effective control of work. They should be brought under the direct control of municipal authority. I S SUNDARA
Silt cleared from drains are dumped on sides of drains, and they often fall back into them. When cleared, immediately remove silt from the area. Don’t dump garbage in drains. It’s the responsibility of citizens to keep drains clean. I M N KESARI
Levy hefty fines on offenders
Two main reasons are mindless dumping of building materials and debris in drains and residents throwing garbage in them. Regular desilting and strict punishment of offenders will improve the situation. I RAVIDRANATHAN P V
Create awareness through the media about not dumping garbage in drains. Levy hefty fines on offenders.
I M R MADHAVA RAO
Civic authorities should take up on a war footing the task of desilting and unclogging choked drains. Start a massive awareness campaign to educate people about the ill-effects of dumping waste in drains. Penalize offenders. Special attention should be paid to low-lying areas. Prevent overflowing of drains to prevent our cup of woes from overflowing. I USHA G RAO
The fifty-year-old drainage system needs to be completely changed and made concrete in coordination with BBMP, BWSSB and BESCOM. Garbage collection system should be handed over to a public-private partnership agency which has the full support of resident welfare associations and trade associations. I SAJJAN RAJ MEHTA
Cosmetic changes will not do. Demolition of buildings constructed on drains is the only solution. Show them no mercy. I N M K NAIR