The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Drive against dumping debris into drains

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 27, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Drive against dumping debris into drains

Staff Reporter

Five trucks detained on day one, drivers warned and let off; Mahanagara Palike to seek police help

FOR OBSTACLE-FREE DRAINS: Mayor Mumtaz Begum flagging off vehicles to be operated under `SWORD' in Bangalore on Wednesday. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

BANGALORE: The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike's (BMP) round-the-clock "Storm Water/Side Walk Obstruction Removal Drive" (SWORD), which was launched on Wednesday, detained five trucks that were dumping debris into storm water drains along the Vrishabhavathi and Hebbal valleys on day one.

While four trucks were found dumping debris along the drain at Nayandanahalli (this stretch is prone to flooding), one was dumping waste into the storm water drain along the Hebbal valley.

Mruthunjaya, BMP Superintending Engineer (Solid Waste Management), said drivers of the detained vehicles were warned and let off.

Resistance

"There was some resistance when our staff snatched the vehicle keys from the drivers. They even threatened our staff on the first day. We will seek police help soon. We do not want to book any case for one week," he said.

Commissioner K. Jothiramalingam told presspersons that the BMP would identify two debris dumping yards in every Assistant Revenue Office (ARO) range.

"People can dump debris on the identified sites by paying a nominal fee. We will later transport the debris to scientific landfills and quarry pits," he said.

Mayor Mumtaz Begum, who flagged off eight vehicles under the drive, appealed to the people to cooperate with the BMP in this endeavour.

"We have completed 20 per cent of the storm water drain remodelling project. We are striving to prevent flooding this monsoon, and this cannot be possible without the people's cooperation," she said.

These vehicles are equipped with five 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 floodlight facility. They will be deployed for round-the-clock patrolling along the beds of storm water drains. They will check littering along storm water drains in Koramangala, Vrishabhavathi, Challaghatta and Hebbal valleys. People who find anyone dumping debris into drains can call Ph: 22221188, 22975803, 23341692 and 26566362.

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