Mysuru, Mar. 30 – Negligence by Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) officials has left residents of Manchegowdanakoppal and Hebbal grappling with foul smell and health concerns for the past six months, as sewage-mixed water continues to flow into a stormwater drain and eventually into Hebbal Lake.

Residents say the polluted water has been entering the Lake, developed at a cost of over Rs. 104 crore by the Infosys Foundation, leaving it heavily contaminated.

According to residents, the stormwater drain from Sangam Circle in Vijayanagar 2nd Stage has been connected to overflowing underground drainage (UGD) pipelines carrying sewage.

As a result, people in Manchegowdanakoppal say they are facing unbearable conditions and have blamed the officials from the MCC’s underground drainage wing.

UGD link to drain

The UGD works were executed about a year ago at a cost of Rs. 50 lakh have failed due to poor execution and lack of maintenance. Several manholes have begun overflowing. Instead of rectifying the problem, sewage-mixed UGD water has been diverted into the stormwater drain.

Consequently, residents along the drain passing through Manchegowdanakoppal and Hebbal First Stage have been enduring foul odour and mosquito menace for nearly a year. They also fear the spread of infectious diseases.

Residents allege that despite repeated complaints, officials have taken little action. For the past six months, sewage water has been entering Hebbal Lake through the stormwater drain, while officials say preparations are being made to take up fresh UGD works.

Negligence by two Departments

Residents also blame officials of Vani Vilas Water Works (VVWW) and Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) for aggravating the problem.

CESC is currently undertaking underground cable installation works across Mysuru city, involving the digging of several pits. On Hebbal Main Road (Ambarish Road), a pit about four feet deep was dug above a major stormwater drain for cable laying work.

However, after the work was completed, rain reportedly caused the soil to collapse, forming a pit nearly ten feet deep and damaging a nearby UGD pipeline. This led to sewage water overflowing in the area.

To manage the situation, MCC workers created a small channel next to a manhole and allowed the sewage water to flow into the stormwater drain.

Officials deny responsibility

Officials, however, deny that either VVWW or CESC is responsible for sewage entering the drain and reaching Hebbal Lake.

An officer from the VVWW said the problem arose after the UGD pipeline was damaged during underground cable work by CESC.

The broken pipeline caused sewage to flow back into houses along five or six roads, forcing residents to break the retaining wall of the drain to release the water into the stormwater channel.

Meanwhile, contractor K.C. Ashwin, who executed the underground cable work, told Star of Mysore that they were willing to rectify the issue if it was proved to have arisen due to their work.

“If Corporation officials provide proper information that the problem has occurred because of us, we will step forward to resolve it. We have even arranged an earth mover when they informed us,” he said.

Sewage and effluents

Residents say Hebbal Lake was already suffering from pollution due to industrial effluents and plastic waste. With sewage now entering the water body, the entire Lake emits a foul smell, forcing walkers to cover their noses while using the walking track.

Plastic waste and stagnant sewage, along the stormwater drain, have further worsened the situation, leading to public anger against the authorities.

Doddamani, Executive Engineer (Underground Cable), said that according to preliminary information, only a 4-ft pit had been dug for cable laying. However, loose soil reportedly collapsed up to ten feet, causing stones to fall on the UGD pipeline and break it.

“Instructions have already been issued to repair the damage. We will discuss the matter with MCC officials and resolve the problem immediately,” he said.