BANGALORE: The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is expected to be proactive to create awareness among public on the ill-effects of letting sewage water into open drains. What can be said of the BWSSB if the engineers become oblivious about their responsibilities? Here is a classic example of BWSSB engineers’ apathetic attitude. There are two engineers—maintenance and project implementation—of sanitary lines in Bangalore. Ulsoor division of the BWSSB has two engineers. While Shashikiran is in-charge of maintenance, Rahul Priyadarshi conducts survey for laying new sanitary lines. Interestingly, Shashikiran and Rahul are aware of the overflowing manhole on Jogupalya Main Road but nothing was done to ensure smooth flow of sewage water.
There is a Government primary school for girls as well as Government high school for boys where the sewage water is overflowing from the manhole. Apart from the students of these two schools, many boys visit the playground situated adjacent to the main road. The stagnated sewage water in the drain has become a breeding place for mosquitoes, thus making the students as well as boys vulnerable to health problems. "We have complained to the BWSSB to clear the manhole and ensure smooth flow of sewage water more than a month ago but no one from the BWSSB is bothered to visit this place. The overflowing sewage water has become a nuisance for us,’’ says a teacher of the Government High School.
Even the two-wheeler riders, autorickshaw drivers and pedestrians are not happy with the callous attitude of the BWSSB engineers. ‘’These are the people who never hesitate to issue notices to the residents for letting waste water into the open drains. Who will impose a penalty on these engineers who are being paid from tax-payers’ money?,’’ asks R Naveen Kumar, an autorickshaw driver.
Meanwhile, Shashikiran, Assistant Engineer, BWSSB, said that it was the responsibility of project implementation division to lay the new sanitary line. "The sewage water is overflowing since the old sanitary lines are not able to carry the load that has been increased due to the increase in number of sanitary connections. I was informed that a plan has been prepared to lay a new sanitary line,’’ said Shashikiran.
Stating that maintenance of sewer lines is the responsibility of the maintenance division, Rahul Priyadarshi, Assistant Engineer, Project Division, BWSSB, said that a proposal was sent to higher authorities to lay the new sanitary line to ensure smooth flow of sewage. "It will be implemented before the onset of monsoon,’’ says Rahul Priyadarshi.
However, the residents want to know what is preventing the BWSSB to clear the manhole as early as possible. Will the BWSSB live up to the expectations of hapless residents of Jogupalya?