After winning case, these Bengalureans showed BWSSB who's the boss!
It's not easy to win a case against a government agency, but around 40 Bengaluru residents put up a sustained fight for two years and won a case against BWSSB. The agency was recently ordered by a court to repair the sewage system in Manjunath Nagar within six weeks, residents of which have tolerated extreme stench and filth for nearly six years.
'BWSSB religiously collected water-tax but turned blind eye to problems'
54-year-old teacher Bani Mitra, the petitioner, said that BWSSB religiously collected the monthly water charges but turned a blind eye to their problems. Before slapping the case in 2016, they had also written to the CMO in 2013 requesting a solution. The CMO responded, and BWSSB started the repair work, but suddenly it stopped and their woes began.
'BWSSB's absence from court hearings indicates admission of guilt'
The court said absence of the BWSSB authorities from the hearings for whole two years, established the fact that they are admitting to the allegations. The bench lashed out at BWSSB for ignoring the CMO's instructions. The court then ordered the water body to start repairing the sewage pipes and the dilapidated Vrishabhavathi storm-water drain and finish within six weeks.
Three weeks gone, work has not started yet
Interestingly, BWSSB is working on its whims this time too despite the court order, as they haven't dug an inch even after three weeks. There's no confirmation of whether BWSSB has given a litigation fee of Rs. 1,000 to Mitra, as per the court's order.
