BWSSB flooded with complaints

Heavy rains on Thursday afternoon exposed the civic agencies’ unpreparedness and non-maintenance of storm water drains as well as underground drains.

The City roads were flooded making it extremely difficult not just for the motorists but also pedestrians who had to walk through small streams flowing on the roads. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) received over 120 calls with regard to overflowing of manholes and blocked drains mainly in Cox Town, Katriguppe, Jayanagar, Srirampura, Sahakarnagar, Kanakapura Main Road and Peenya Dasarahalli.  

J Srinivas, a resident of LIC Colony in Jayanagar 3rd Block, said manholes close to his house have been overflowing since Saturday and despite complaining, the Board officials have not addressed the problem. The afternoon rain has worsened the situation with sewage water flowing on the roads making it difficult for the commuters to even walk on the road. 

The residents of Kadirappa Road in Cox Town had to face rain fury after an already existing problem of sewage water overflowing aggravated. R Chandrashekhar, one of the residents, said rain water mixed with sewage has entered houses making it extremely difficult for the residents to live. Despite complaining to the BWSSB officials a week ago, no action has been taken.

T Venkataraju, engineer-in-chief, BWSSB said complaints addressed to the Board officials directly are attended. However the complaints registered through the call centre are delayed as they do not reach the area engineers. He said recently the Board has handed over the charge of handling the call centre to another company which is still in the process of escalating the complaints to the engineers concerned.