Civic negligence raises stench at TC Palya

By Y. Maheswara Reddy | NT

Bengaluru: Here is an example of how authorities’ negligence or lack of commitment towards their duties or responsibilities makes residents suffer. A little bit of caution from the authorities concerned would have spared the residents from suffering for the last six months.

The problems of residents on 2nd Main Road of P&T Colony near T.C. Palya began when Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) took up laying underground cable on TC Palya Main Road. The contractor used an earth mover to dig up the road. While digging the road, the machine damaged the sewer line that carries sewage from 2nd Main Road of P&T Layout to the main sewer on the TC Palya Main Road.

The residents complain that the Bescom contractor failed to replace the damaged sewage pipe or inform the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) engineer about the damage. The residents said the Bescom contractor restored the stretch that was dug up for laying underground electric cable without replacing the damaged sewage pipe.

“We had no problems till the Bescom contractor dug up the road. We have been suffering a lot for the last six months due to the stagnation of dirty water that overflowed from the manhole. We have been complaining to the BWSSB engineers for the last six months about this nuisance, but nothing has been done till date,” said Girish, a resident.

Govardhan Reddy, a resident, has said that BWSSB authorities fail to fix this problem despite repeated reminders. “We are not able to walk on the road due to water stagnation. We are also worried about our health,” said Govardhan Reddy.

Expressing a similar opinion, Jayakumar, a resident, said that BWSSB engineers used to send jetting machines to clear stagnated water but no permanent solution. “We want the BWSSB engineers to fix this problem on a permanent basis. We visited the BWSSB office on Saturday and waited for two hours but could not meet the BWSSB engineer,” said Jayakumar.

Meanwhile, BWSSB assistant executive engineer Naveen Kumar has said that a stretch of the road which was asphalted recently needs to be cut for replacing the damaged sewage pipe.

“We have applied to the BBMP seeking permission for cutting the road. We will begin the work as soon as receiving the BBMP’s nod,” said the BWSSB assistant executive engineer, adding that he had already sent a jetting machine to remove stagnated water.