<p>KR Puram residents inspected eight rajakaluves in the area and found that most have not been desilted and do not have a strong retaining wall.</p>.<p>The residents’ action follows the death of a 28-year-old youth who drowned in a stormwater drain (SWD) last week. Mithun had been washed away in the SWD.</p>.<p>His body was found 500 metres away from the spot where he drowned after 30 hours of search.</p>.<p>“The stormwater drains should have been maintained well, but last week’s incident showed that the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has failed to maintain them,” said Balaji Raghotham, a member of Citizens for KR Puram, who inspected the eight rajakaluves.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>Free flow of rainwater</strong></p>.<p>Raghotham pointed out that the free flow of rainwater was impossible since 80 to 90% of the SWDs were clogged with silt. “Most SWDs don’t have grills or fencing and are filled with all kinds of waste. I could even see beds, television sets, and refrigerators in the drains,” he said.</p>.<p>The retaining walls of the rajakaluves, despite being made of stones, have crumbled, and failed to stop flooding.</p>.<p>Also, they have been encroached upon and the space for water had been narrowed.</p>.<p>“Based on the observations, I will soon meet the officials concerned and submit suggestions,” he said.</p>.<p>The rajakaluves included the SWDs at SR Layout, Seegehalli Lake inlet and Vinayaka Layout.</p>
<p>KR Puram residents inspected eight rajakaluves in the area and found that most have not been desilted and do not have a strong retaining wall.</p>.<p>The residents’ action follows the death of a 28-year-old youth who drowned in a stormwater drain (SWD) last week. Mithun had been washed away in the SWD.</p>.<p>His body was found 500 metres away from the spot where he drowned after 30 hours of search.</p>.<p>“The stormwater drains should have been maintained well, but last week’s incident showed that the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has failed to maintain them,” said Balaji Raghotham, a member of Citizens for KR Puram, who inspected the eight rajakaluves.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>Free flow of rainwater</strong></p>.<p>Raghotham pointed out that the free flow of rainwater was impossible since 80 to 90% of the SWDs were clogged with silt. “Most SWDs don’t have grills or fencing and are filled with all kinds of waste. I could even see beds, television sets, and refrigerators in the drains,” he said.</p>.<p>The retaining walls of the rajakaluves, despite being made of stones, have crumbled, and failed to stop flooding.</p>.<p>Also, they have been encroached upon and the space for water had been narrowed.</p>.<p>“Based on the observations, I will soon meet the officials concerned and submit suggestions,” he said.</p>.<p>The rajakaluves included the SWDs at SR Layout, Seegehalli Lake inlet and Vinayaka Layout.</p>