Infosys Foundation helping HDMC fix overflowing drains

Hubballi: Private organizations and NGOs are joining hands with the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) to fix the rajakaluves (primary drains) here. Infosys Foundation has offered to construct slabs over the raja kaluve near Bhavani Nagar to Chandranathnagar at a cost of Rs 5 crore.
It will lay slabs for 400 metres and has already completed about 300m.As per the memorandum of understanding between Infosys Foundation and HDMC, technical staff of the civic body are monitoring the work.
Residents near the drain are heaving a sigh of relief. Neelamma Chapparad, a resident of Bhavani Nagar, said they were fed up with water from the drain. "It used to overflow during the rainy season and the entire area would stink," she said.
Nagappa Shirabadagi, another resident of Bhavani Nagar, said, "We're told the slabs will prevent the overflowing."
SH Naregal, special officer, HDMC, said the drain was creating a problem in low-lying residential areas during the monsoon.
"The HDMC had been looking for solutions. Infosys Foundation came forward to place slabs over the drain. When work is complete, we can prevent water overflowing from the drain into residential areas and it can be used as a walking path too," he said.
Naregal added, "HDMC will extend slab work for other nala catchment areas with financial assistance from non-profit organizations and donors. HDMC will also chip in to prevent storm water from overflowing."