Shanti Nagar sick with sewerage

Shanti Nagar sick with sewerage
By S Lalitha, DH News Service, Bangalore:
Clogged drains coupled with choked manholes have ensured prolonged misery for the residents of 6th Cross, Lakshmi Road in Shanti Nagar.


Their struggle is one-and-a-half year old and seems to continue.

The primary issue here is the channelling of sewerage from the adjacent road into a drain passing through a demolished toilet. Without a proper disposal system in place, the sewerage is diverted into a stormwater drain that runs near the gates of houses.

“Apart from foul smell emanating from the sewerage, the residents also face serious health hazard. The filthy water has seeped into entered the sumps of a few houses and contaminated the drinking water,” said an aggrieved resident. Many others voiced their problems but on condition of anonymity.

One of the families here had been consuming water from the sump for last one month without being aware of the contamination. “Its must be a providential interference that has saved my family”, one of the members said.
Permanent solution?

The residents demand permanent solution to the issue. “The local office sends men to clear the blockages whenever we inform them. But a week later the same problem crops up again,” said another resident.
They insist that something concrete and long-term action be planned for the sewerage disposal. Some people lamented that they have to shell out money frequently to get the clogged drainage cleared.

A nearby open drain needs to be widened, said a resident of 7th Cross. “Many other roads in Shanti Nagar suffered as the sewerage water overflowed on the streets whenever it rained.”

Redressal

He suggested a redressal of this issue on priority basis. A group of people from the road had landed at the Ulsoor BWSSB office last week with a demand that an exact date be given as to when the problems would be set right. A complaint with nearly 50 signatures too were submitted.

A top BWSSB official assured them that the diameter of the existing sewage pipelines would be increased from the existing eight inches to twelve inches shortly.

“We have been getting similar assurances for the last six months,” said a resident. The million dollar question is when will the ‘right time come’?