Thu Sep 18 13:06:47 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
Residents of Balagere-Panathur in Bengaluru are facing severe flooding issues due to a poorly designed and executed stormwater drain (rajakaluve). The drain, constructed between 2020 and 2021, has design flaws like missing links and incorrect gradient, causing water to stagnate and overflow. A suspected manhole directs rainwater into a sewage treatment plant (STP), overwhelming it and leading to the release of untreated sewage into nearby canals. Residents have filed complaints, including one with the Upalokayukta and a writ petition in the High Court, highlighting encroachments and demanding action. They are now demanding a refund of their property taxes, as they believe they can manage the civic works better themselves. The problem has persisted despite inspections by high-ranking officials and has led to dangerous situations, including a near accident involving a school bus.
**News Article:**
**Bengaluru Residents Demand Tax Refund Amidst Flood Woes Blaming Faulty Stormwater Drain**
**Bengaluru, September 18, 2025** – Frustrated residents of Balagere-Panathur in Bengaluru are demanding a refund of their property taxes, citing a disastrously designed stormwater drain (rajakaluve) as the root cause of persistent and worsening flooding in their area.
Built between 2020 and 2021, the drain has been identified as a major contributor to the problem. “It’s not just heavy rains,” said Shwetha Rangaswamy, a member of the Individual Taxpayer’s Forum (ITPF). “It’s the drain itself. It has missing sections, the gradient is all wrong, and it actively pushes water back onto the streets.”
Residents point to a suspected manhole within the drain as another critical flaw. This hole reportedly directs rainwater and debris into a sewage treatment plant (STP), overwhelming the facility and causing it to release untreated sewage and stormwater into nearby canals.
Ravish K., a resident and advocate, highlighted the issue of encroachments, stating that the long-standing encroachments are adding up to the drainage problem.
The problem has persisted despite inspections by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and other civic authorities. A recent incident where a school bus carrying 20 children nearly toppled in a pothole further highlighted the dangers faced by residents.
The ITPF, representing the residents, argues that if the government cannot properly manage civic infrastructure and safeguard lives, the residents should be allowed to manage their funds themselves.
“Crores are collected in property taxes from this area, and it’s literally going down the drain,” lamented Ms. Rangaswamy. “If we can’t rely on the government to use our taxes wisely, we’ll take matters into our own hands and build our city ourselves.”
Residents have filed complaints with the Upalokayukta and the High Court, questioning the lack of due diligence in the drain’s construction and demanding the removal of encroachments. The ongoing situation has fueled calls for greater accountability and transparency in infrastructure development projects.
First Piper 