The residents of 6th Main, 9th Cross, 3rd Block in HBR Layout are grappling with a severe public health crisis as sewage water continues to contaminate their Cauvery water supply. This persistent issue, ongoing since 2019, has led to numerous health problems, financial burdens, and a decline in living standards for the community.
Despite lodging multiple complaints and receiving assurances of action from the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), a lasting solution remains elusive. The frustration of the residents is palpable. One resident expressed the community’s anguish: “The smell is unbearable. The whole street reeks of sewage. The amount of sewage entering the sumps is unacceptable. The BWSSB team has visited but to no avail. This indifferent attitude—‘we need to check, we will check, we are not sure, we are awaiting grants, we are waiting for the budget, we are waiting for election results’—is causing immense public suffering. We are tired of the excuses.”
The contamination has forced residents to frequently clean their water sumps and borewells, incurring significant expenses. “Every time there is a mixing of sewage with water, we need to call sump cleaners and overhead tank cleaners, costing ₹2,000 each time, and then call local water tankers, paying ₹1,000 for refilling the sump,” a resident lamented.
Vikram, another resident, highlighted the root cause of the problem: ageing water infrastructure. “The Cauvery water pipes, laid over 30 years ago, desperately need replacement. The BWSSB acknowledges this but cites delays in securing grants and completing tender processes. This bureaucratic inertia has left 22 houses on this road facing chronic contamination, especially during rains or sewage blockages.”
A temporary fix recently implemented by the BWSSB lasted less than two weeks, exacerbating the residents’ frustration. “Not even two weeks after the temporary fix, our block is again receiving sewage-contaminated Cauvery water,” noted another resident. The road’s dead-end design further complicates the issue, preventing the free flow of sewage and worsening blockages.
Despite numerous appeals to BWSSB officials and elected representatives, the residents have consistently received disheartening responses, with officials citing pending grants for pipeline replacement as the primary obstacle. This ongoing crisis underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive overhaul of the water infrastructure to ensure safe and clean water for the residents of HBR Layout.
