During monsoon, floodwaters enters the homes of residents in Marathahalli, near Deepa Nursing Home. This is the result of the suspension in the construction of a storm-water drain running adjacent to the area for the past two years. This drain was to carry rainwater to Doddanekundi lake.
“Work on the drain was stopped suddenly around two years ago. This low-lying area gets flooded during heavy rain within minutes. Floodwater level sometimes is as high as one-and-a-half ft,” said Surendran Mangalassery, who moved into the area five years ago. Around 100 families, including his, living in the area are affected by the floods each monsoon.
“The water that used to flood this area before was generally the water from the lake and rainwater coming in through the drain. But for the past two years, there has been an exponential increase in the number of apartments around the lake. The flood water is now primarily sewage water and causes inconvenience,” said S.P. Puttaswamy, owner of Deepa Nursing Home. He said that even the nursing home gets flooded, exposing patients to various health problems.
Unable to bear the stench, the residents have themselves arranged to get the drain cleared as the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) did not heed to their complaints, Dr. Puttaswamy said.
When contacted, Marathahalli councillor Varalakshmi G. said that the BBMP had allocated Rs. 1 crore for the drain work. “The work will be taken up soon. Around Rs. 20 crore was spent three years ago. Now, tender for the project has been floated and contractors will be finalised shortly,” she said. She claimed that earlier, there was poor response to the tender. “It is difficult to work as there is excessive growth of weed and sewage inflow in the drain. However, encroachments in the surrounding area have been sorted out,” she added.
Meanwhile, a senior BBMP official said that a holistic approach is being taken to address problems caused by drains in the city.
“A budget of Rs. 4,205 crore will be needed for the work in the newly added areas that come under five outer zones.
“The master plan for this project will be discussed in the palike council meeting this month,” he added.
Keywords: monsoon, Marathahalli
In a way, the junta deserve it. Doesnt it fall into the customer's
prerogative to check the product before buying. If people bought houses
in low-lying areas, they should be ready to bear the consequences. If
you say, why give permission at all?? Well, when a city grows at the
pace of blore, its inevitable to but give permission. The land around
the city is still untouchable since its is agri oriented or held by a
powerful politician. SO these low lying areas got occupied. Now its
time to bear the consequences.
Thanks THE HINDU to pay attention on hundreds of families near Deepa Nursing home area, Marathahalli. When can we expect the authorities to open their eyes on the same and resolve the problem. How long more the residents to wait?.
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