The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike has constructed a ‘model footpath’ with rainwater harvesting pits under the surface on Anebande Road in Jayanagar 3rd Block.

The footpath, constructed at a cost of Rs 23 lakh, has a divider where saplings have been planted. Before constructing the footpath, the side drains were strengthened and rainwater harvesting pits dug every 30 feet, to allow percolation of water.

The footpath is a self-serving construction, capable of replenishing the water table in the area and feeding the saplings planted in the divider. It also contains anti-skid tiles.
According to Yediyur corporator N R Ramesh, the Palike had released Rs 68 lakh for the project.

In addition to the Rs 23 lakh spent on the footpath, another lakh was spent on buying 4,000 saplings and planting them.

“The balance was refunded to the Palike,” he said. The corporator said not a single drop of rainwater that falls on the footpath would go waste.

Bangalore South MP Ananthkumar, who inaugurated the footpath, said such footpaths were urgently required across the City and called upon all corporators to emulate the model to tackle water crisis in Bangalore.

Padmanabhanagar legislator R Ashoka said existing footpaths have turned into parking places. “But this new footpath will ensure safety of pedestrians and help increase the ground water table,” he added.

Ashoka flayed the Congress government for increasing the bus fare by 16 per cent. He claimed that a similar proposal had been made when he was the transport minister, and that he had rejected it.

“A hike in the bus fare will drill a hole in the pockets of the lower middleclass,” Ashok added.