Pipeline work delay angers OMBR Layout residents

Y. Maheswara Reddy | NT

Bengaluru: The delay in the completion of BWSSB’s pipeline work at OMBR Layout near Banaswadi has thrown life out of gear for local residents. They have to put up with inconveniences such as dug-up roads, debris on footpaths, and restricted vehicular movement.

“Initially, the BWSSB engineer has assured us to complete the work within a week. The road was dug up to fix a valve to the water pipeline that carries water to the newly added wards (110 villages),’’ said Anil Kumar, a resident.

He said the 6th Main Road is the main link between OMBR Layout and Kasturi Nagar. “A few residents could not take out vehicles from their houses due to debris dumped on the footpaths and worse condition of the road. It has become a habit for the BWSSB engineers to engage a contractor to dig up the road for one or the other reason,’’ he said.

Demanding the BWSSB engineer to expedite fixing the valve and restore the road, Thomas Joseph, a resident, has said the authorities concerned have failed to fix the problem even after a month. “I do not know why the contractor is taking too much time to fix the valve. Today is the 32nd day. I want the BBMP engineer to direct the contractor to complete the work as early as possible,” Joseph said.

The residents have also taken up this issue with the elected representatives but in vain. “The 6th Main Road is being dug up frequently. Laying pipelines meant for supplying water to areas beyond Ramamurthy Nagar and other areas began before the State Assembly elections. The BBMP authorities have asphalted the road a few weeks before the State Assembly elections. Now, they have dug up again. There is no guarantee of BWSSB not digging the road in future,’’ said a local resident pleading anonymity.

Blaming the elected representatives for the delay in completion of the work, Amith Nigli, a social activist, said the residents of 6th Cross have brought this problem to MLA K J George’s notice but in vain.

“Our former corporator has been absconding and not bothered about the residents’ woes. I demand the elected representatives and government officials to solve this problem as early as possible,” Nigli said.

Meanwhile, BWSSB assistant executive engineer has said the ongoing work would be completed in 15 days. “We will restore the road after completing the work. We will not dig it up again,’’ said a BWSSB assistant executive engineer.