Hebbal drain work causes jitters among residents

Panicked residents gathered in large numbers in Manoryanapalaya at Hebbal on Thursday morning when BBMP workers arrived to build retaining walls for a 'raja kaluve' (major stormwater drain) there.

The residents living on the either side of the drain feared that part of their property may be destroyed or will be taken into possession by the BBMP, as they fear their properties have encroached upon the stormwater drain.

Even as BBMP officials clarified that they were there to build the retaining walls, residents began calling the media and the police.

The situation got even more complicated when the students of a government school adjacent to the drain were evacuated and made to stand outside.

The management of the Nammoora Sarkari Hiriya Prathamika Pathashale apparently thought the digging work may cause cracks to the school building, and therefore made the students stand on the ground as a precautionary measure.

The Hebbal police rushed to the spot and convinced the residents that there was no need to panic and that the BBMP will finish building the retaining walls on both the sides of the drain by Thursday evening.

"A few policemen were deployed at the stretch and the BBMP's work is continuing," a senior police officer said.