<p>Poor response from contractors to the tenders is preventing the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) from executing a few crucial stormwater drain (SWD) projects.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Chief Engineer (SWD) H C Ananthaswamy attributed the poor response to the nature of the work. “It is generally difficult and a lot of contractors keep away from such projects,” he told Deccan Herald.<br /><br />A case in point is a damaged retaining wall on Ittamadu main road.<br /><br />Residents, especially schoolchildren who take the narrow stretch here, face problems. “There were many instances of the drain overflowing. Sometimes the water/sewage level is higher than the existing wall, which is dangerous,” said J Shekar, a resident.<br />Besides, residents complain that there is an immediate need to increase the height of the wall. <br /><br />Stating that the Palike has called for tenders again, given the lack of interest the first time, Ananthaswamy said: “We have identified the problem and are working towards solving it. But all procedures have to be followed.”<br /><br />However, the Palike has not been able to attract contractors for the repair of the stretch a few metre off the main road, where several houses have encroached the drain.<br />“People just do not understand. They have encroached on such a large portion of the drain that there is clogging, which will soon result in overflowing,” a representative of the contractor, who was demolishing the houses, said.<br /><br />The Palike will also construct huge walls to prevent encroachment in the future. But, the representative said, it would be of no use. <br /><br />“We have done this in the past in other areas, people just break it and build houses,” the representative said.<br /></p>
<p>Poor response from contractors to the tenders is preventing the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) from executing a few crucial stormwater drain (SWD) projects.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Chief Engineer (SWD) H C Ananthaswamy attributed the poor response to the nature of the work. “It is generally difficult and a lot of contractors keep away from such projects,” he told Deccan Herald.<br /><br />A case in point is a damaged retaining wall on Ittamadu main road.<br /><br />Residents, especially schoolchildren who take the narrow stretch here, face problems. “There were many instances of the drain overflowing. Sometimes the water/sewage level is higher than the existing wall, which is dangerous,” said J Shekar, a resident.<br />Besides, residents complain that there is an immediate need to increase the height of the wall. <br /><br />Stating that the Palike has called for tenders again, given the lack of interest the first time, Ananthaswamy said: “We have identified the problem and are working towards solving it. But all procedures have to be followed.”<br /><br />However, the Palike has not been able to attract contractors for the repair of the stretch a few metre off the main road, where several houses have encroached the drain.<br />“People just do not understand. They have encroached on such a large portion of the drain that there is clogging, which will soon result in overflowing,” a representative of the contractor, who was demolishing the houses, said.<br /><br />The Palike will also construct huge walls to prevent encroachment in the future. But, the representative said, it would be of no use. <br /><br />“We have done this in the past in other areas, people just break it and build houses,” the representative said.<br /></p>
