Urban News

Take a stroll on any stretch in the ward and all you can see are garbage piles, choked drains and stagnant water on the roadside. The stench emanating from garbage is unbearable and clogged drains are an open invitation to diseases like diarrhoea and dengue. Garbage scattered everywhere accentuates the awful condition of one of the most neglected wards in the city.

The residents rue that their pleas often fall on deaf ears.

Ahmed Faizan, a shop owner in the area, is one of the victims. Oozing water from a drain beside his shop has made the situation worse for him.

“The drains have been a constant worry for us for a while now. Every time it rains, drains gets clogged and water creates a mini pool throughout the stretch. Even after repeated complaints, the issue has not been dealt with,” says Ahmed.

The drainage pipes are old and are the root cause of the problem according to residents.

“The pipes are too old to sustain drain and water pressure. We brought the issue to the notice of the BWSSB officials but they paid no heed to our complaints,” says Ahmed, adding that the situation goes worse when a lorry or a car passes by.

A little farther down the road is a huge stinking pile of garbage. The heap has been created by the corporation while cleaning the big drain situated on Nala Road.

“The Corporation staff cleaned the drain after it was clogged due to heavy rainfall. They de-silted the drain creating a garbage pile and left it as it is. They come occasionally and clear a small part of it, which is of no use,” said Daw Shariff, a resident. Shariff also adds that the area has acute drainage problems and every time it rains, sewage water enters the shops and houses.

The councillor, Fareeda Ishtiyaak said, “The previous bill to the private contractors has reached Rs 10 lakh and now we have no funds to clear the garbage. The bill has not been passed by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) yet and is expected to take eight to ten days more. We will be able to do something only after that.”