Drain silt dumping, potholes add to BBMP's woes

The disposal of silt from drains is proving to be a challenge to the BBMP officials following rain, along with fixing the pothole-ridden roads in the City.

The desiltation work of shoulder drains and side drains is on in many wards and huge quantities of silt has been collected on the roads. The continuous rain lashing the city has made it difficult for the BBMP to transport it to quarries for dumping. The core zones, such as East, West and South , are majorly affected, the BBMP officials said.

Chief Engineer (Bommanahalli Zone), Bettegowda said workers are hesitant to lift the silt when it rains as it is wet. The roads are damaged and potholes may get formed during the downpour. Then, transporting the silt to quarry pits becomes exhausting and time consuming, he added.

A BBMP official from Yelahanka zone said the moisture level in silt increases when it rains. Until the silt becomes dry, it cannot be transported unless there is an emergency. The silt can dry in 24 hours. But the incessant rain is affecting this process, he added.
Meanwhile, the residents complained of stench emanating from the silt.

Sandeep Saha, a resident from Whitefield, said the silt has been dumped for more than a month on the sides of Graphite India Road.

"It is difficult for pedestrians and motorists to move as the lane is also in a bad shape along with the silt. BWSSB and BBMP are at loggerheads over the mess here and none of them is coming forward to clear it,” he charged.

Ayaz Khan, a resident from HBR Layout, said the silt dumped on roadsides is stinking for the last two weeks. “To make things worse, dumping yards are nearby,” he added.