Another abyss, the third in 15 days; BWSSB to Blame – The New Indian Express

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By Express Press Service

BENGALURU: Another sinkhole appeared on the busy main road from Maruthi Nagar to Ittamadu Friday morning, but was not highlighted until Sunday morning when it was taken care of. It is the third such hole in the last 15 days and agencies have blamed the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) for it.

The third sinkhole appeared just two days after the BWSSB filled another such hole on Mahalakshmi Layout Main Road. The previous one happened due to a leak in the water pipe, which made the ground loose. The sinkhole on Ittamadu’s main road, 2ft deep, appeared around 11am on Friday. Residents and motorists immediately placed rocks and bricks, barricading the area. They then notified the BWSSB and traffic police officers.

We rushed to the spot and thought it was due to a water pipe leak. We checked on Saturday morning as water is supplied to surrounding areas on Friday evening. We detected damage to the sewer line, said BWSSB Deputy Executive Engineer Nandini KR.

She said that recently the roads were dug to connect the houses to the main sewage line. During the process, vibrations or damage would have taken place, it is suspected. We have changed both the 100 mm diameter connecting lines and the 225 mm diameter main line at this junction. The reason for the sinkhole could also be due to a storm sewer along the BWSSB pipeline and also the ongoing cabling works by Bangalore Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (Bescom). The pipe may have been damaged some time ago and due to seepage the ground could have weakened and led to the sinking of the road, she said.

Underground infrastructure is neglected. There is absolutely no coordination between civic agencies like BWSSB and Bescom to ensure better road infrastructure. Someone should be held accountable for three sinkholes in the last 15 days. To make things better and shame civic bodies, we should mark the site and create a room of shame chart and attribute the damage to the relevant agency, said Ashwin Mahesh, an urban expert.

BENGALURU: Another sinkhole appeared on the busy main road from Maruthi Nagar to Ittamadu Friday morning, but was not highlighted until Sunday morning when it was taken care of. It is the third such hole in the last 15 days and agencies have blamed the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) for it. The third sinkhole appeared just two days after the BWSSB filled another such hole on Mahalakshmi Layout Main Road. The previous one happened due to a leak in the water pipe, which made the ground loose. The sinkhole on Ittamadu’s main road, 2ft deep, appeared around 11am on Friday. Residents and motorists immediately placed rocks and bricks, barricading the area. They then notified the BWSSB and traffic police officers. We rushed to the spot and thought it was due to a water pipe leak. We checked on Saturday morning as water is supplied to surrounding areas on Friday evening. We detected damage to the sewer line, said BWSSB Deputy Executive Engineer Nandini KR. She said that recently the roads were dug to connect the houses to the main sewage line. During the process, vibrations or damage would have taken place, it is suspected. We have changed both the 100 mm diameter connecting lines and the 225 mm diameter main line at this junction. The reason for the sinkhole could also be due to a storm sewer along the BWSSB pipeline and also the ongoing cabling works by Bangalore Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (Bescom). The pipe may have been damaged some time ago and due to seepage the ground could have weakened and led to the sinking of the road, she said. Underground infrastructure is neglected. There is absolutely no coordination between civic agencies like BWSSB and Bescom to ensure better road infrastructure. Someone should be held accountable for three sinkholes in the last 15 days. To make things better and shame civic bodies, we should mark the site and create a room of shame chart and attribute the damage to the relevant agency, said Ashwin Mahesh, an urban expert.

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