BWSSB burns the midnight oil to desilt drains

Jetting machines work at night as daytime traffic proves a deterrent

The desilting of drains and manhole work which is normally carried out during the summer, much ahead of the monsoon, has been delayed in the City due to unseasonal rains.

To ensure that desilting is done at the earliest, before monsoon gains momentum, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is now carrying out desilting work during the night to overcome the problem of heavy vehicular movement during daytime.
According to the Board officials, during summer, due to unseasonal heavy rains, the desilting work could not be carried out and this has also resulted in excessive accumulation of silt in the underground drains.

The official said that due to heavy traffic congestion during the daytime, they are also unable to carry out the desilting work and hence, the Board decided to carry out the work in the night.

The official said that a circular was issued four days ago to carry out the desilting work during night as the huge jetting machines which are normally used for sucking and jetting of silt could not be used during the day as they were unable to enter smaller roads. However, the official said that although there is less traffic during the night, the jetting machines are still unable to enter some of the arterial roads as vehicles are parked outside the houses in many areas.

As of now, the Board has begun desilting work in Gandhinagar, Cubbonpet, Cottonpet and surrounding areas which have very narrow lanes. Subsequently, the desilting work will be extended to the other core areas and will be carried out for the next one month.
Despite carrying out desilting work on a continuous basis, the clogging of drains has not reduced in the City. The Board’s call centres receives over 200 complaints about waterlogging and manholes overflowing. During heavy rains, overflowing of manholes and blockages due to accumulation of silt and garbage seem to be a common sight. 

Although, BWSSB has taken up the project of environmental action plan to avoid rainwater flowing into underground drains, the work is being carried out in a phased manner at a snail’s pace.

A Board official said that replacement of old and corroded pipes is being carried out simultaneously.

Once the work is completed, waterlogging and overflowing will reduce in the City, he added.