JOIN US Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao has taken suo motu action in a case related to the drowning of a 10-year-old boy in an open stormwater drain at Devarabisanahalli recently.
The Lokayukta said that despite directions issued in April to the BBMP and BWSSB to cover all open drains, manholes and open borewells, the incidents were repeating. Justice Rao directed the officials to submit a report in this regard.
On May 30, Junaid, a resident of Yemalur near HAL, drowned in an open drain near Bellandur lake, while crossing it. “A proceeding was held on April 8 regarding open drains. Directions were issued for covering all the open drains with chain-link fencing at least six-foot high from the ground level. Further directions were also issued to put caution boards with radium at a short distance cautioning the public about the existence of open drains. With the consensus of the officers present in the meeting, including the BBMP commissioner, the deadline for implementing the directions was fixed on May 25.
The incident reported in the media shows non-implementation of the directions by the BBMP officers concerned,” Justice Rao stated.
The Lokayukta has issued notices to the BBMP commissioner and the joint commissioner of the zone concerned, for submitting a report on the incident on or before June 9.
DH News Service