Date:11/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/11/stories/2008111158920300.htm
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Karnataka - Bangalore

MLA unhappy with drain repair work

Staff Reporter


BBMP officials told to examine the objection raised by the MLA

MLA says widening of drain will affect the existing road alignment


— Photo:Sampath Kumar_ G.P.

No magic: A portion of Residency Road that was raised following the repair of the storm water drain.

Bangalore: Shantinagar MLA N.A. Haris has on Monday voiced his objection over the increase in the height of the road by about a metre at Brigade Road-Residency Road junction following the repair of the storm water drain using pre-cast reinforced cement concrete elements.

Following this, the work on the drain, scheduled to be completed by Tuesday, was stopped for a while on Monday afternoon. Later it was resumed.

Mr. Haris said the widening of the drain created an undulating terrain and would affect the existing road alignment, which, in turn, would come in the way of vehicle movement.

The legislator raised his objection when Minister for Urban Development, Law and Parliamentary Affairs S. Suresh Kumar inspected the work, which is taken up as part of remodelling of storm water drains linking the Koramangala valley under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

Mr. Haris also pointed out that either smaller size precast elements should have been used or elements should have been placed at a lower level.

Following this, the Minister asked the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike officials and engineers to continue the work after examining the objection raised by the MLA and a few shopkeepers.

However, the BBMP engineers informed Mr. Kumar and Mr. Haris that the raised road would not affect either the motorists or the shopkeepers. They also said that it was not possible to place the elements deeper as there are sewerage pipelines below the drain.

The engineers have also clarified that sufficient gradient would be given to ensure that rain water from the road enters the drain.

“We will continue the work after discussing issues with the MLA,” said a BBMP official.

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