Resident Mohan Rajaram sent a Whatsapp message to the informal Sector 3 Whatsapp group that the storm water drain, footpath and road was encroached to make a private garden on 17th A main in Sector 3.
“The drain height needs to be rectified too. It is higher than 17th A Main Road… the water will flood the road rather than flowing into the drain,” he complained.
The problem was soon rectified simply because the neighbours intervened with the house owner who obliged because it was also in his best interest.
In the meanwhile, the flooding woes continue. According to BWSSB engineer Saibanna and chief engineer (waste water) Ramakrishna, there are two main reasons why the sewage is overflowing in HSR and surrounding areas.
The overflow in low lying areas during rains is because the rooftop pipes in most houses are connected to sewage lines, and many citizens in apartments are pumping out rain water filled in the basement into the sewage drains.
The drains are not able to carry the huge load that is illegally being pumped into them. According to the officials, a 60 million litres per day (MLD) pumping station is getting commissioned. Once that becomes operational, the problem will stop.
A list of the erring apartments and houses is being generated, so the specific resident welfare associations can communicate to them and explain their wrongdoing. Alongside, BWSSB will issue notices to these people for violating the law and causing much hardship to everyone around.
