The frothing and burning Bellandur Lake brought disrepute to Bengaluru in front of the whole world. The National Green Tribunal had also taken strong exception to the lake catching fire for the second time. But now the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has been caught red-handed while releasing sewage into a stormwater drain (rajakaluve). It may be noted that Bellandur is at the end of Bengaluru’s lake and tank system connected by the stormwater drains.
In a video posted on Twitter by M Lakshmikantha, a research associate with the Namma Bengaluru Foundation (NBF), BWSSB workers can be seen releasing sewage from a tanker run by the Board into a rajakaluve.
#BWSSBಯ #ಕರ್ಮಕಾಂಡ!
— Lakshmikantha M (@lakshmikantha_1) September 19, 2018
ಹಾಡಹಗಲೇ ರಾಜಕಾಲುವೆಗೆ (ಪುಟ್ಬಾಲ್ ಸ್ಟೇಡಿಯಂ ಪಕ್ಕದಲ್ಲಿನ ಹ್ಯಾಸ್ ಮಾಟ್ ಹಾಸ್ಪಿಟಲ್ ಎದುರುಗಡೆ) #ಸಾನಿಟರಿ #ಕೊಳಚೆನೀರು ವಿಸರ್ಜನೆ!
ಮಾನ್ಯ @CMofKarnataka @DrParameshwara @chairmanbwssb ಏನ್ರೀ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಇದೇನಾ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಆಡಳಿತ! ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕರ ಆರೋಗ್ಯ ಲೆಕ್ಕಕ್ಕಿಲ್ವಾ?@rajeev_mp @PCMohanMP @BBMPCOMM pic.twitter.com/WmENeTVz6W
NBF, a non-profit backed by BJP Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar, has been proactive in highlighting the civic mess in the city and is party to multiple legal cases related to these issues.
Speaking to TNM, Lakshmikantha said that the video was shot on Wednesday and the sewage was being released into the primary stormwater drain behind the football stadium opposite Hosmat Hospital near Garuda Mall.
Lakshmikantha added, “This is not somewhere in the outskirts but in centre of Bengaluru. The workers were brazenly letting sewage out into the stormwater drains in broad daylight. When we questioned them, they said that they were working based on instructions from their superiors. This is not right, it is 100% wrong and unacceptable.”
According to Lakshmikantha, the workers were instructed by Assistant Engineer Ramesh and Assistant Executive Engineer Dinakar.
They said they were asked by their supervisors to lift sewage from the streets in front of Shanti Nagar MLA NA Harris’ house and dump it in the rajakaluve,” Lakshmikantha said.
Lakshmikantha claims that NBF has reported the incident to the authorities but has not got any reply.
When TNM contacted BWSSB chief Kemperamiah, he denied knowledge about the incident and claimed sewage cannot be on the road. He said if pointed out that any property was releasing sewage in the streets, they will take action. He said Executive Engineer Ramakanth was the concerned authority of the area.
Ramakanth also denied knowledge of the incident but promised to look into the matter after it was pointed out.