Date:17/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/17/stories/2008021759240300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

M.F. Saldanha threatens to take BWSSB to court

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: M.F. Saldanha, former judge of the Karnataka High Court, has threatened to sue the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) for leaving the Rest House Road in deplorable condition after laying sewer pipes.

In a notice to the two authorities in his capacity as Chairperson of Transparency International India’s Karnataka Chapter, Mr. Saldanha has set February 25 deadline for the BWSSB for restoring the road to its original position. He has threatened to seek damages of Rs. 1 lakh a day if the authorities failed to restore the road to its original position before the deadline set by him.

Pointing out that residents of Rest House and Rest House Crescent Roads had been facing difficulties in using their vehicles since the BWSSB dug up the area 17 months ago. Although the work was completed after delay of several months, the civic authorities did not bother to restore the road to its original position. He has held the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike responsible for not maintaining the road in good condition.

Justice Saldanha, who resides at Rest House Road, claimed that his car was severely damaged because of bad condition of the road and he had to spend Rs. 67,000 to repair it.

He said the authorities had failed to implement in letter and spirit the High Court directives (issued by Mr. Saldanha himself) with respect to road cutting and restoration of roads after carrying out works. Although the trenches were filled, the road was left with either a depression or a hump which were causing serious damage to the vehicles, he said.