Ironic as it may seem, the road outside the Bangalore Water Supply And Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has fallen prey to an unprecedented scale of garbage dumping. Not only is this mounting trash pile a massive eyesore but the stench emanating from these dump sites makes it impossible for one to reside in this ward. To top it all, the garbage supply is contaminated with remnants of perishable food such as meat, dairy products and eggs. “Garbage has become a nuisance for us. It is nothing but a social menace. The vendors from meat shops dump waste on this site. Also, lack of awareness among people has played a huge part in polluting these roads. This is a perennial problem. However, we have intimated the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) authorities to assist us in curbing this menace. Perhaps, harsher treatment such as penalising people who engage in illegal dumping of garbage on streets would better the current situation,”  said the Memorial Church Pastor.    

Meat by-products half buried in fetid slush and dirt constitute a large majority of the dirt pile. Needless to say, the threat of disease looms amidst these unhygienic conditions. Undoubtedly, these issues exact a crippling toll on the health of people residing here. Owing to water contamination and unsanitary conditions prevalent in this ward, several school children contracted cholera recently. “The problems need to be addressed at a grass root level. It has now become mandatory for us to find a permanent solution for dumping of garbage and water pollution. The menace of water-logged roads and overflowing drains too need to be addressed immediately,” said Victor, a passerby.

Owing to incessant rainfall, the main sewage drains of the town were choked, a couple of months ago adding to the misery of residents. This resulted in a perilous mix of sewage water with the drinking water supply. “It was a horrendous sight. The bathrooms were flooded with filthy drainage water which eventually became a breeding ground for mosquitoes. We shelled out cash from our pockets to get the mess cleaned up. We would like the authorities concerned to take cognizance of issues like garbage menace and de-silting of drains at the earliest,” said Sapna, a resident. The corporator was unavailable for comment.