Garbage dumped near bus stand

BANGALORE: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s  (BBMP) lassitude towards ensuring a well maintained city seems to be getting more apparent by the day. As a case in point: While the drains in the city were supposed to be desilted by the end of June-July this year, it is intriguing to note that the same is still going on with the year’s end fast approaching. The storm water drain in Jeevanbima Nagar was recently desilted and the silt was dumped next to a bus stop. “The silt has been lying here for over a week now. No one has come forward to clear the mess. Dumping the filth removed from a drain in such close proximity of a bus stop is simply unheard of and absurd,” said Riyaz, an employee of one of the restaurants in the vicinity.The local corporator, K Chandra Shekar said, “At the moment, desilting work is in progress between 12th Main and 19th Main of the locality, Kodihalli, HAL 2nd Stage and ISRO compound. Fifty per cent of the work is completed.” When asked about the estimated cost of the project, he was unable to give details.Meanwhile, the Assistant Executive Engineer, Vinod Kumar said that the cost of the project would approximately amount to `10 lakh. The engineer explained the entire process — removal of the slab covering the drain, desilting, placement of the slab and then the transport. But, he was at a loss of words for the reason behind leaving the filth from the drains near the bus stop. He said, “According to the contractors, the workers are on leave and that is why the silt is not yet removed. I will have it cleared before Wednesday.” When questioned BBMP chief engineer B T Ramesh said, “Silt cannot be transported immediately, it needs at least two to three days before it can be moved. I will instruct my officials to get the problem solved immediately.”