BBMP: One-time cleaning of SWDs will be taken up soon

BENGALURU: The BB MP on Saturday told the high court that one-time cleaning of Bengaluru's stormwater drains at a cost of Rs 42 crore will be undertaken soon.

It also said the tender for the project, that entails use of robotic excavators, was issued on October 27 and the last date is November 24. A division bench headed by Chief Justice Dinesh Maheshwari adjourned the hearing on a batch of PILs related to drains to December 15. The bench noted that there's reasonable time available to ensure smooth flow of sewage as well clean SWDs.

Earlier, senior advocate Aditya Sondhi, a co-opted member in the high-level committee headed by the chief secretary, told the court the cleaning project was discussed at a recent meeting and it was approved by the government.

During the last hearing, the BBMP had said they take up cleaning only once in a year - before the onset of monsoon - and that they're planning a round-the-year cleaning process. However, as the project required more time to take shape, a suggestion was put forward for taking up one more cleaning up exercise of the SWDs during the post-monsoon period.

The BBMP also told the court that 55 structures that supported the hoardings are still remaining and they'll be removed soon.

7 convicted in attack case

Advocate General Uday Holla told the court that a civil court in the city has upheld the conviction of seven accused in the Ramamurthynagar attack case.

He said the sentence imposed upon the first three accused has been upheld whereas the other four were released under the Probation of Offenders Act after their sentencing was set aside.

Eight persons were found guilty by the 10th ACMM court for attacking BBMP personnel and labourers who were removing flexes in the first week of August.