Desilting and repair work urgently needed

BANGALORE: The residents of Saraswathipuram are hoping to get immediate attention from the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) authorities to address monsoon-related problems without further delay. Most of the roads of Saraswathipuram are water logged now due to the recent rains.A little rainfall is enough to flood the roads with water due to lack of proper drainage system here. Most of the roads are narrow and do not have drains. As a result the water does not drain out. The stagnant water mixes with the sewage water and enters the houses of the residents here.The residents complain that the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) authorities do not comprehend the need and urgency to replace the existing sewage pipes. These pipes are incapable of taking the load of the sewage.“Most of the sewage pipes were not laid as per requirement. The immediate need is to replace the old sewage pipes that were laid decades ago. The number of houses here have increased many fold. The result — over loaded and blocked sewage pipes,” said Ramanamma, a housewife.“Recently, the BBMP workers tried to clear the silt from the open drains. However, they have forgotten to remove the silt that they put on the road,” Ramanamma says. The BBMP is in the process to desilt all the drains in the city. They were supposed finish the work before the onset of the monsoons. However, the work is still in progress.The BBMP authorities have also failed to keep the area free of garbage. One can see heaps of garbage at vacant sites. “No effort has been made to clear the garbage from these places. We are not happy with the garbage clearance in this area. The garbage is being cleared twice a week. Thus, causing lot of inconvenience to us,” said Srinivas, a dhobi.Meanwhile,  Gouthamkumar, the local corporator, said, “The BWSSB and the BBMP authorities will take up the repair work at Saraswathipuram and Main Channel Road. Clearing the silt from the open drains will be completed within a week. All efforts will be made to drain the rain water,” Gauthamkumar said.