Encroachment of SWDs: Onus on Palike staff

“With over 400 encroachments still to be cleared across the City, it has been decided to fix the responsibility on zonal commissioners and chief engineers to speed up the work,” Palike Commissioner Siddaiah said here on Monday. He said encroachment clearance would be given top priority.

Siddaiah said the Palike has cleared 60 per cent of the SWD encroachments and courts have granted stay orders in 27 cases. “I was given the impression that lot more cases have been pending. We have planned to clear all the encroachments in two months,” he said.

Hinting at decentralisation in maintaining SWDs, the commissioner said the responsibility of desilting the drains will now rest with the zonal heads. He said estimates have been prepared and tenders will be floated shortly for the project. The SWD department of the Palike will henceforth only construct drains but not maintain them, he added.

Legal cell

As part of the decentralisation of power, zonal commissioners have also been empowered to appoint their own panel of private advocates to address any legal issues in their respective jurisdiction. The legal cell of the Palike has been considered “illegal cell” by the corporators for its lack of vision and poor disposal rate.

An assistant law officer from the legal cell will be deputed to all the eight zones of the Palike to assist zonal commissioners, Siddaiah said. The Palike has identified three broad categories - government buildings, educational institutions and Defence area, and lastly private campuses - to promote rain water harvesting, he added.

The BWSSB will take up desilting of manholes on a regular basis henceforth. The task was hitherto being taken up only upon a complaint. The Board will issue a circular to all the divisions and sub-divisions to execute the work ward-wise and the corporator of the respective ward would co-ordinate with the Board. The work will begin from May 1 and priority will be accorded to low-lying areas, an official said.

Water contamination

Following three days of heavy rainfall in the City, water contamination has been reported from Dollar's Colony, Jayanagar 3rd Block, BTM Layout First stage, Murphy Road, Ulsoor.  A BWSSB official said that the source of contamination has to be identified and necessary steps will be taken immediately.