THEY FOUGHT AGAINST ALL ODDS TO EMERGE VICTORS

Date of Publishing: 2013-05-10 00:00:00.0

Faris Arakkal

Some stories are never heard, but some hit the ears so hard. This week, Cityplus brings to you a success story which will stand as an inspiration to others!  

The Federation of Bangalore North East Residents Welfare Association Banaswadi brought the lethargic officials into action and fixed a big menace which they had been facing for the last 20 years. The residents at 1st Block HRBR Layout had been knocking at all the doors to get their local sewage pipes connected to the main sewage line in the city but in vain. But after the federation took up the issue, the problem came to a close giving the residents an ease of life. The story unveils…

The problem kicks off 

It was in the year 1995 and 1997, the first block HRBR Layout was formed and residents started building their houses. In the initial stages there were only few houses in the layout, soon the nine 'H' and 'G' mains were formed with families moving in. But it was then when the BWSSB gave a shock to the residents who had settled down there. When BWSSB was done with the water supply in the layout, they failed to connect the sewage pipe line of both 'H' and 'G' mains to the main line. Hence the sewage water from all the houses would reach the two manholes they had dug up at the two ends on the both mains. The situation was turning grave, when it rained. The sewage water, with no way to flow into the main sewage line started creating troubles at both the manholes and sewage rushed out of the manholes forming water logging. After the filthy water started accumulating at these manholes, some people gave a try to close these holes with cement and bricks to bring an end to the water leakage. This caused more trouble with the water started flowing back to the respective toilets with the pressure mounting at both manholes. Hence people were left in the lurch, thanks BWSSB.

Much ado about nothing 

The desperate residents took the matter to the authorities but their appeals were fallen on deaf ears. Officials promised many but nothing new had happened. One of the residents on the condition of anonymity said that some simple and stupid reasons were given to the residents to get rid of the work. Residents were again promised that the problem would be solved after the monsoon was over but nobody turned up. For years, residents kept knocking the doors and officials' responses were no better. They shrugged aside the residents' queries as it was much ado about nothing!

The layout in peril

Soon the sewage water accumulating at the end of the manholes started emanating foul smell in the layout. The situation grew more serious with mosquitoes started breeding on the sewage. Several incidents of sump tanks getting mixed up with the sewage water were also reported. With no other way, the residents started shelling out huge money to remove the sewage with the help of the leeching machine brought from the BBMP. Unless the process was done often, the situation turned no good and hence the process was tedious to be carried out for long.

The trouble shooters
But the destiny had to take its course. It was in the month of February 2013, the residents came to know about the Federation and its president Subbaiah CM who lives nearby. They approached Subbaiah and they had rounds of talks with the federation. Subbaiah put before them a single choice to join the federation and fight for the cause. The decision had its impact. The residents teamed up with Federation of Bangalore North East Residents Welfare Association and a few residents like TV Velayudhan, Bhaskaran and Satheesh Nanu led the team from the front.

The rise of a federation 

Subbaiah initiated talks with then Executive Engineer and asked for an immediate facelift. When the result was zero, the residents took it to the senior officials. The higher officials including the chairman of BWSSB were informed about the issue. The team drafted a letter showcasing the issue and emailed it to the chairman.
They received an immediate reply from the chairman pointing out the issue had been handed over to the respective engineer. Within a few days, the respective contractor was sent and the work began. The residents were happy and in a week's time, the sewage line was connected to the main pipe and the problem was fixed.

Be the change 

When this reporter talked to some of the families here in the layout, each in unison profusely thanked Subbaiah and the federation. "I am thankful to Subbaiah for getting the problem fixed", says a home maker Kavitha Madhusudan.  Shruthi Alva, another home maker too remembers Subbaiah and the crew for saving their layout from a great problem.
 Satheesh Nanu who came up for the issue wonders that when youngsters were not interested into the issue, it was these old men who came forward and that had motivated him to team up with the crew. But for all for all of them, Subbaiah has only a single answer "be the change you want".
It is just not a success story of a group of determined souls, but also of the federation which saw more number of residents joining the body.