Clogged Halasuru stormwater drain poses flooding threat to Murphy Town residents

Residents in Halasuru, specifically near the Subramanya Swamy Temple, are facing severe flooding risks as a major stormwater drain remains clogged with plastic waste, silt, and vegetation ahead of the upcoming monsoon. The drain, which falls under the Shivajinagar and partly Shanthinagar assembly constituencies, has remained in this neglected state for over a year despite civic authorities circulating photographs of clean-up and desilting activities on social media.

The blockage of this stormwater drain hampers the free flow of rainwater, raising fears of severe inundation. This is particularly concerning for the residents of Murphy Town in Halasuru, which has a documented history of flooding and house inundation year after year during heavy rains.

According to local residents, the drain has remained in a neglected state for months despite repeated complaints raised with the authorities. The civic body is supposed to desilt these stormwater drains regularly under its Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC). For this purpose, the civic body allocates funds every year to cover routine desilting, debris removal, and vegetation clearance to ensure an uninterrupted flow of water.

However, residents state that no such work has actually happened on the ground. Instead, a gap has emerged between official claims and reality. Civic officials claim they regularly receive photographs of drain desilting on WhatsApp groups, which are then posted on social media platforms to show progress. Despite these online updates, a physical visit to the spot in front of the Subramanya Swamy Temple confirmed that the drain continues to be choked with floating garbage and accumulated sludge.

When contacted about the discrepancy and the clogged state of the drain, a senior official of the Bengaluru Central City Corporation promised to visit the spot on Monday to inspect the situation.