Mysuru:  Storm water drains in city are now having an abundant flow of water, that too in this scorching summer. However, on close observation, it is found that what is flowing is not clean rainwater, but sewage water. The waste water from many houses which should be let into Under Ground Drainage (UGD) system is said to be let into storm water drains and ultimately to rivers and Lakes. This is harmful not only to humans but also animals and birds. However, this alarming situation has not appeared grave for civic officials and elected representatives.

Poisoning Lakes

The sewage water in storm water drains from Vidyaranyapuram and near JSS College on Ooty Road flows into Dalvoy Lake; from Paduvarahalli, Jayalakshmipuram and Gokulam to Kukkarahalli Lake; from Dattagalli, Vijayanagar and Bogadi to Lingambudhi Lake; from Kyathmaranahalli, Gandhinagar and Shantinagar to Devanur Lake, from Rajivnagar, Ambedkar Nagar and Ghousianagar to a canal via Kesare, Yadavagiri, Kumbarakoppal and Bannimantap also to the canal via Kesare; Hebbal, Mahadeshwara Layout and Telecom Layout to a canal near JK Tyres on KRS road. In short, all the Lakes and canals are deliberately getting polluted.

Official apathy

When civic officials are questioned as to how so much flow is there in storm water drains in summer, the officials have a ready answer — residents who do not have a storage sump, wash their clothes and vessels outside the house ! They assertively claim that no sewage water gets into Lakes and canals. However, people wonder how a small quantity of water used for washing vessels, clothes and vehicles can amount to such a huge flow in storm water drains.

In old extensions, the UGD system is not effective and sewage water obviously gets into storm water drains. A few civic officials honestly admit the mistake and say that the problem is being rectified stage by stage.

Rain water to UGD

Mysuru city, planned well by the then Maharajas, is being spoilt under the pretext of development under various government schemes like JnNURM and CM’s fund. Roads are dug indiscriminately and never asphalted again, which goes on throughout the year. As sewage water is entering storm water drains, rain water drained from terrace of houses enters the UGD and overflows through manholes on roads and flows into houses nearby.

The drainage system, be it storm water or sewage, it is totally shabby in city and residents say that one day Mysuru could be adjudged as the most polluted city, a really dubious distinction!

Award-crazy

Knowledgeable residents opine that MCC is just keen to get the Cleanest City tag hyping on Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and every time blames poor participation of residents for missing the award. They feel that MCC instead of being just award- crazy should focus on real cleanliness and get rid of mosquitoes and prevent contagious diseases.

Former Corporator N. Dhruvaraj also contends that sewage water is flowing in storm water drains and polluting water bodies fuelling spread of deadly diseases and urged the MCC to take drastic steps to avert a major damage to one and all and adds that overflowing sewage is always an eyesore for tourists visiting the city.