JOIN USStepping out of their houses is a huge challenge for the residents of 9th ‘A’ Cross on Muneshwara Temple Road in Ejipura. In fact, they have to use a vehicle to go to the nearest shop on the street, courtesy overflowing manholes.
The woes aggravate as the sewage water enter houses lining the road. The problem is persisting for the past three years and has become worse over the last three months, residents told Deccan Herald.
“We have to take our vehicles even to go to the nearest shop at the corner of the road as sewage water stagnates at the entrance of the houses,” a resident said. The unhygienic environment has begun to take a toll on the health of the residents.
Residents unwell
Mary, a resident, has been unwell from the past two weeks. “I am suffering from nausea and headache. I am avoiding cooking in the house as the stench gets into the kitchen and it is disgusting. I have not eaten anything the whole day,” she said.
Another resident Jafin John, said there was no fresh air inside the house as he had to keep the windows shut to avoid the stink. Mosquitoes and flies have become common and people live in the fear of contracting viral infections.
“If a similar problem had occurred in areas like Koramangala or Indiranagar, it would have been attended to on a priority basis. The authorities concerned are depriving us of our right to a clean environment,” complained Thankamani Mahesh. She said the civic agencies, which penalise citizens for non-payment of taxes, were bound to address the problem.
Quick-fix solution
Residents said each time officials promise them a repair, but come up with some quickfix solution, with the leakage recurring after a day.
In one of the houses, sewage was getting mixed with tap water. The residents said they could smell the stench, but were compelled to use the same water after boiling it, for drinking purposes. They said that they had been threatened by the officials for ‘complaining to the media.’
When contacted, BWSSB Assistant Executive Engineer Prabhu Dev said work on laying a sub-main line in the area was in progress. “The estimates are being prepared and the work will be completed in three months,” he said.