Bengaluru: Sanitary pit poses threat to residents

BENGALURU: BWSSB’s pending sanitary work in AR Layout, JP Nagar 6th Phase, that began prior to the lockdown, has left residents of the area in the lurch. People from the locality, which comes under Puttenahalli ward, face the daunting task of negotiating a sanitary pit at the junction of three roads. Their biggest concern is the risk it poses to children in the area.
The line-replacement work began three months ago, but was put on hold after the Covid-19 outbreak.Residents claim the road was in good shape before BWSSB began work there. Aware of the situation created by the pandemic, residents say they didn’t put any pressure on the authorities for a while. But now as people have started stepping out of their homes, the pit work needs to be completed at the earliest to ensure safety, they say.
Dhananjaya Padmanabhachar, a resident of the locality, said, “So far, no unfortunate event has occurred. Before something happens, they must attend to this. There are no streetlights at this junction. In fact, anyone can slip and get hurt.”
Residents are also finding it difficult to use their vehicles. An ambulance or a fire tender cannot cross the junction as the pit has left little room for manoeuvre.
“Considering the junction has no streetlights, we registered a complaint with Bescom. But officials said they won’t be able to help us immediately as their van cannot enter the road because of the pit,” added Dhananjaya.
A BWSSB official said he wasn’t aware of such a situation. “Closing a pit doesn’t even require a lot of men. I will ensure it is closed within the next three days,” he added.
Another resident from the locality said BWSSB should complete the work before monsoon sets in.