BANGALORE: Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) will launch a round-the-clock drive to check debris dumping and littering along storm water drains on Wednesday. Called "storm water/side walk obstruction removal drive" (SWORD), the drive will be carried out for three months.

Mayor Mumtaz Begum will flag off eight-specially designed Tata Sumo vehicles at the BMP head office on Wednesday. These vehicles, equipped with five uniformed gangmen and a duty officer of the rank of Junior Engineer or above, a wireless communication set, siren, public announcement system, generator, a 5 hp motor and a flood lighting facility, will be deployed for round-the-clock patrolling along the beds of storm water drains.

Two SWORD vehicles will check littering along each of the four valleys, Koramangala, Virshabhavathi, Challaghatta and Hebbal. While four vehicles will be managed by each of the valley remodelling agencies, the remaining will be managed by the BMP. The purpose of the drive is to protect and promote public health, safety and welfare by preventing dumping of debris and other solid waste into storm water drains and prevent potential flooding.

During the drive, BMP officials will identify debris dumping sites across the city. BMP officials said one debris dumping yard may be provided for every five wards.

"Dumping of construction debris and packaging material in storm water drains and encroachments are the common complaints from contractors engaged in remodelling of storm water drains. They have always cited `helplessness' against these problems for delay in remodelling work. SWORD seeks to address these issues," a senior official involved in the drive said.

Individuals and parties caught littering the drains will be nabbed on the spot and cases will be filed against them. The civic body will build prefabricated arch bridges along some stretches of the storm water drains to overcome the problems caused by the cables embedded in the drain bed by various service providers, the official added.

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