Tax-payers’ money down the drain

Sir,

A defunct stormwater drain (SWD) diagonally opposite the Vontikoppal Club on Gokulam Park Road is being unnecessarily ‘upgraded,’ resulting in a waste of tax-payers’ money.

The MCC has removed the existing Doddaballapur (DB) stones that covered the drain and begun ‘upgrading’ work along a stretch of nearly 300 metres. Ironically, this area has never experienced water-logging, thanks to its natural topography.

The most glaring flaw is that the SWD originates from a dead-end at a higher elevation — meaning it has never functioned in the first place. Yet, MCC is pressing ahead with cosmetic changes: replacing DB stones with concrete slabs and re-constructing the drain, without even providing proper inlets for rainwater. In effect, the drain remains defunct, and public funds are being spent to perpetuate an ineffective system — all at the cost of the tax-payer.

– K. Chandrahas, Mysuru, 24.8.2025

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This post was published on August 28, 2025 5:55 pm