There is a lot happening on Fourth Main Road, R.A. Puram. Over two months ago, work to concretise this stretch started. While it received a thumbs-up from residents on the western side, those living on the Eastern side were not greatly impressed. With work left incomplete, residents were having a difficult time taking their vehicles out of the driveway.
Adding to this, the civic body has the undertaking of constructing rain water harvesting structures along the stretch. This is one of the 1,063 roads chosen by the Corporation to prevent water stagnation on roads.
In Alwarpet, such rain water harvesting structures are coming up at Ananda Road, Ashoka Road and Narasimhapuram, which were chosen as they have a history of water stagnation problems, said a Corporation official.
These rain water harvesting structures, which include a bore well pipe filled with sand and blue metal, were proposed to be developed in summer when the water table dips. And, these are in addition to the storm water drains on the streets. But, how efficient will they be in preventing flooding of streets is what residents want to know. “In Bangalore, such is the drainage system that water never stagnates on the streets after it rains,” says Sumitra Niranjan, a resident of Ananda Road. “Such structures are welcome, but they need to be maintained well.”
According to Sekar Raghavan, director of Rain Centre, ten years ago the Corporation had constructed rain water harvesting structures at G.N. Chetty Road and named them ‘RWH1, RWH2…’. Now, no such structure exists. “How many of such rain water harvesting structures on the streets are working? These structures should be a replacement for SWDs,” he says.
That they can really be successful is seen from the example of two localities in Besant Nagar – Kalakshetra Colony and First Avenue. The credit goes to the residents who oversee its maintenance. For instance, almost every street in Kalakshetra Colony has a rain water harvesting structure that is maintained by the association members. Experts say any such structures – SWDs or rain water harvesting structures – get clogged and holes in the lid get closed only due to lack of maintenance. A resident is responsible for harvesting the rainwater falling within his compound, while the Corporation should be responsible for harvesting the rainwater on public places like roads and parks,” adds Raghavan.
