The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to complete the construction of the stormwater drain and retaining wall near Sripada Apartments in East Bengaluru within six weeks.
A division bench led by Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice K V Aravind passed the order while disposing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Janashakthi Welfare Layout Association from Krishnarajapuram. The court underlined the importance of completing the work urgently, especially with the onset of the monsoon season.
The directive pertains to a 15-metre stretch at the exit of 10th Cross Road that connects to Basavanapura Main Road. The court specified that the height of the retaining wall should range between 3 and 3.5 metres to effectively manage water flow and prevent flooding.
The PIL, originally filed in 2023, pointed out persistent flooding problems during the rainy season in areas adjacent to the 10th, 11th, and 12th Cross, blaming poor maintenance of the stormwater drain. In response, the government proposed the construction of a U-shaped drain along with a retaining wall to address the issue.
Initially, a 15-foot retaining wall was being built in accordance with the local terrain and water flow dynamics. However, construction was abruptly stopped at just 4 feet near the 10th Cross following objections raised by the Sripada Owners Association. The petitioners alleged the association’s opposition was driven by its intent to construct a bridge across the drain for private access.
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