Bantwal: A retired headmaster has won appreciation for taking matters into his own hands and getting a blocked roadside drain cleaned at his personal expense after repeated representations to the municipality went unanswered.
B Ramachandra Rao, a retired headmaster, arranged for a JCB and labourers to remove the accumulated soil from the drain near his house, carrying out work that would normally fall under the civic body’s responsibility.
Rainwater began spilling onto the road
The drain is located along the road leading from the railway station towards Kaikunj East locality in Kaikunj 14th Ward under Bantwal Municipality. With the monsoon underway, a large quantity of soil had accumulated in the drain and obstructed the flow of rainwater.
As a result, muddy water began spilling onto the road, creating inconvenience for residents and road users.
Rao, along with local residents, had reportedly submitted written representations to the Bantwal Municipality several times, seeking action to clear the drain. However, no work was undertaken despite the monsoon having begun nearly two months ago.
Citizen steps in after repeated appeals
With the problem continuing, Rao decided to arrange the cleaning himself in the interest of residents. He personally bore the expenses and ensured that the accumulated soil was removed using a JCB and manual labour.
His initiative has drawn appreciation from local residents, who welcomed the effort to address an issue affecting public safety and the smooth movement of rainwater.
Bantwal Municipality is currently functioning under an administrator as there are no elected members. The incident has also highlighted the importance of timely civic action, particularly during the monsoon, when clogged drains can quickly lead to waterlogging and road-related problems.
Rao’s decision to fund the work himself has been seen by residents as an example of civic responsibility, while also raising questions about the need for municipal authorities to respond promptly to basic public infrastructure concerns.