Sanitary lines, manholes culprits too

The problem becomes even more evident during rainy season and the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has now drawn small and large-scale plans to attend to this.

With some of the existing pipelines being at least six or seven decades old, there is an urgent need to replace them.

Public to be blamed

But the civic agency alone cannot be blamed for the clogging, sewage overflow and the subsequent stink. The public too play a large role in preventing it.

“I have been complaining about frequent drainage clogs on my road from a very long time. With many restaurants on the stretch, I know many dump garbage into the drains directly. Although the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board has heeded to my request, the restaurant owners also should be educated on keeping our City clean,” said a resident on Rest House Road, adjacent to Church Street.

Permission awaited

The BWSSB has drawn a work order to replace pipelines on Church Street and Museum Road, but the Board is yet to get permission  from the BBMP and Traffic police for digging the road.

More than 40 per cent of the manholes in the City are located on stormwater drains which is also one of the reasons for the foul smell.

At many places, sewage water flows into stormwater drains and rainwater flows in to sanitary lines. With no proper separation of the two lines, the City turns into a cesspool during rains.

Regular complaints

At present, the BWSSB is replacing pipelines at places where there are frequent complaints and broken lines. But as a permanent solution, the Board has drawn a large-scale plan to segregate sanitary lines from stormwater drains.

“Under the Environment Action Plan (EAP), a pilot project called ‘Zero Sewage Lines’ has been designed wherein rainwater would flow into stormwater drains and sewage water in sanitary lines. Nearly 65 per cent of the project near Hebbal Valley is complete. The project will be implemented in phases in the entire City,” BWSSB Chief Engineer (Planning) Ramaswamy said.

Lessons on garbage segregation

The Palike has realised that public participation is a must to deal with garbage menace and is going to launch an extensive drive of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) in the City for segregation of garbage at source.

The drive is important as the Palike spends about Rs 350 crore a month only on filth.

Garbage processing units charge a lot simply because they have to segregate garbage, which consumes a lot of time, money and energy.

“If this could be done at the household level, a lot of time and money could be saved,” said B V Satish, Chief Engineer, Lake and Environment division of the BBMP.

The Palike has floated a tender for a contract period of one year to educate masses. The contract is for Rs one crore and so far five agencies have shown interest.

The Palike will soon assign the job to the lowest bidder with a good track record. Under the IEC programme, the firm will have to create awareness on waste management through ads in print, radio and television media, street plays, lectures at bulk garbage generators like apartments, hotels, markets and industries.

The Palike is also planning to rope in ragpickers for dry waste management and has begun an enumeration drive to issue identity cards to them.