Memorandum to GBA Chief Commissioner on Grievances

(Regd., Public Charitable Trust No 599 / 94--95 IV)

#54/1, First Floor, Basappa Cross Road, Shanthi Nagar, Bangalore 560027

 Tel: 080-41144126, Mob: 9731817177;  E-mail: kchamaraj@gmail.com; civicbangalore@gmail.com; Website: www.civicspace.in

Date: 26.02.2026

To

Sri Maheshwar Rao, IAS

Chief Commissioner

Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA)

Bengaluru

Respected Sir,

SUBJECT: 

1.  Requesting rainwater pits in all drain works being undertaken in Shanthinagar

2.  Request to instruct all agencies to provide child care facilities for workers’ children during all works

3.  Request to put up display boards giving scope of any work being taken up on roads and drains, water supply and sewerage, and sanctioned plans of buildings under construction

Greetings from CIVIC Bangalore! 

1. Lack of rainwater pits in all stormwater drain works of Shanthinagar: I heartily thank you for taking quick action on my earlier letter submitted to you regarding ongoing stormwater drain works in Basappa Road, Shanthinagar. Two rainwater pits were built along the drain the very next day of submitting the letter. 

However, this hasn’t been implemented on all the roads where drain works are being undertaken. For instance, in Shanthi Nagar Main Road, in front of the ward office, no rainwater pits were dug despite our request to the AE.  Box drains are being built and the pipe and chamber model for rain water harvesting is again missing! (Pictures below)  

Stormwater drain in concrete box model on Shanthi Nagar main Road

In light of the above, I respectfully request your office to:

 Conduct an immediate inspection of the stormwater drain works at Shanthi Nagar ward to assess compliance with rainwater harvesting and sustainable water management norms;

Issue necessary directions to ensure integration of appropriate rainwater harvesting models in the project;

2.  Lack of child care facilities for workers’ children:  Secondly, we had written on the nonavailability of crèche or childcare facility at the worksite for the children of labourers engaged in the work. Pictures below show how the children are languishing at the worksite, denied of all early childhood care and nutritional services. 

 

          

Children of a woman labourer living in unhygeinic condition and losing Early Child Care and Education

In light of the above, I respectfully request your office to:

Ensure the immediate provision of functional crèche facilities at the worksite for the children of labourers, in accordance with legal requirements; and

Fix accountability on the concerned officials and contractors for these lapses.

3.  Lack of display boards giving scope of stormwater drain work, BWSSB works, building plans, etc.: 

As you are no doubt aware, the Karnataka Local Fund Authority Fiscal Responsibility Act (KLFAFRA) requires transparency on all works to citizens so that accountability can be fixed in case of non-compliance of rules and regulations.  

Lack of display boards  on stormwater drain works:  Though two rainwater pits were dug in one drain on our request, we were unaware of how many rainwater pits need to be dug totally in all the drains.  However, despite our request to the AE, no boards displaying the scope of works were displayed about the stormwater drain work being carried on in Shanthinagar. 

   

Lack of display boards on BWSSB’s water works in Shanthi Nagar:  There is same lack of information on the BWSSB works of massive relaying of water and sewage lines happening in Shanthinagar.  Since GBA is the coordinating agency for all works of parastatals as well, we request you to instruct BWSSB also to put up display boards about the scope of works being carried out in Shanthinagar.  

Lack of display of sanctioned plans by buildings under construction:  Despite our myriad requests to the AE, no sanctioned building plans are being displayed in front of construction sites in the whole of Shanthinagar.  Without these, it is impossible to identify the violations of setbacks and number of floors that are happening rampantly at every construction site.  

In light of the above, I request you to instruct all agencies coming under you to display boards regarding the scope of works, the names of the engineer and contractor in charge with their contact numbers, the beginning and end dates of the works, etc.

I am confident of your quick corrective action on the issues raised above. I would be grateful to be informed of the steps taken in this regard.

Thanking you.

Yours sincerely,

Kathyayini Chamaraj

Executive Trustee 

CIVIC Bangalore

9731817177