Sewage flows on roads in Bengaluru as drainages get clogged

By ​J Vignesh

BENGALURU: On October 31, residents of Mangammanapalya, Somasundarapalya and HSR layout -mostly techies -will protest the Kar nataka Compost Development Corporation's (KCDC) failure to address the foul smell and potential health hazards caused by the waste processing plant. Protest, they say, is inevitable as they have tolerated the stench long enough.

"Groundwater is also getting contaminated as water from the processing plant seeps into the ground. Skin diseases have increased," said Biju Abraham, an employee of Deck App technologies. Sonali Gautam, an employee of Medi Assist India, added, "If it rains, the stench from the compost facility is unbearable."

And, this is just one of the problems that dog this ward. Mangammanapalya, situated right behind the upscale HSR layout and adjoining the tech corridor, has bad roads, overflowing drainage and nonfunctioning streetlights.

The roads are full of potholes and on many inner roads, asphalting has not been completed, point out Santosh TR, an employee of Anexas Consultancy and Mukesh Pareek of JP Morgan Chase.

The fused streetlights in some parts of the ward add to the misery. Moving around the locality at night is a tough task for the residents, especially women."Streetlights do not function in some parts of the ward," said Preeti Pillai, an employee of Deloitte.

Drainage is clogged in many parts of the ward and sewage comes on to the road."The drains overflow on the road. Water also accumulates in vacant sites, which becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes," said Kadher