Date:02/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/06/02/stories/2006060222660400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

30,000 manholes cleared in 10 days

Staff Reporter

BWSSB takes steps to prevent flooding in low-lying areas during monsoon

7,000 manholes cleared in western parts of city
1.20 lakh manholes linked to 40,000 km of drains in the city

The project estimated to cost Rs. 2 crore

BANGALORE: Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) seems to be better prepared for the monsoon this year. The board has cleared about 30,000 manholes in the past 10 days.

Another 10,000 manholes would be cleared in the next three days, the board said. The board had identified these manholes for clearing 1,20,000 manholes in the city. These manholes are linked to more than 40,000 km of drains in the city and suburbs.

The most number of manholes — above 7,000 — have been cleared in Bangalore West, including in areas such as Rajajinagar, Mysore Road and Mahalakshmi Layout. In other areas of the city, about 4,000 manholes have been cleared, the board says.

The silt from the manholes was being taken to the 14 BWSSB treatment plants on the outskirts of the city. This was to prevent any inconvenience such as bad odour to residents of localities on the outskirts.

The BWSSB has requested people not to throw garbage or to divert rainwater into manholes because it would lead to blockages and overflow of sewage. Clearing of manholes was estimated to cost the BWSSB about Rs. 2 crore and was being undertaken mostly in low-lying areas of the city. About 1,000 workers and 25 sewer-cleaning machines have been employed.