Newly laid road dug up to lay pipelines

Lack of coordination among the civic agencies or the hold of local leaders on the civic works, digging up of newly asphalted road to lay pipelines is definitely burning a deep hole in the taxpayers' pocket.

Despite the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) informing the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) about its ongoing work on a road, the BBMP asphalted it five weeks ago.

In Doddakallasandra, located off Kanakapura Main Road, the BWSSB had informed the sewerage board that it would take up water pipeline laying work. However, the civic body took up the work during Dasara festival.

Days later, the board shifted water pipelines and in less than two months, the newly asphalted road was dug up.

"I told the local palike engineer not to asphalt the road. But the engineer that the work was already awarded and it was better for them to get the road done," Avinash, a local resident said.

The BWSSB official says that they have sent a list of areas where they would take up the pipelines laying work, especially in 110 villages. However, the list seems to have reached the BBMP officers after relaying work.

"It is a tragedy that newly laid roads are been dug. We had not received any information till two days ago when BWSSB sent out a sketch on laying their pipelines. Normally there is coordination, but I need to check with the local engineer," Nisar Ahmed Khan, executive engineer, BBMP Bommanahalli zone said.

Somashekhar, palike chief engineer (road infrastructure) said that he had intimated all his engineers about the BWSSB's plan to lay pipelines.

"Normally our engineers check with the BWSSB. But at times there is lack of coordination and such things happen," he added.

However, Somashekhar pointed out that the civic body has been waiting to asphalt certain roads and the work was held up as the sewerage board had not taken up the relaying of pipelines for the past six months.

DH News Service