Bengaluru East City Corporation Removes 40-Year-Old Dilapidated Water Tank in Hoodi, Citing Risk to Over 50 Families
Bengaluru: Bengaluru East City Corporation has safely demolished a dilapidated overhead water tank at Bhairathi Bande in Hoodi ward after a technical inspection found that the approximately 40-year-old structure was at risk of collapsing, Commissioner D.S. Ramesh said. The civic body said the operation was undertaken with the safety of more than 50 families living around the tank in mind.
According to Ramesh, the corporation has been continuously identifying and removing dilapidated buildings, walls and other structures that pose a threat to life and property, with public safety being treated as a priority. The removal of the overhead tank at Bhairathi Bande was carried out as part of this exercise.
The overhead water tank was constructed around 40 years ago and had remained unused for the past 10 years. Prolonged lack of maintenance had led to cracks developing in its pillars, while the structure had deteriorated to the extent that reinforcement rods had become exposed.
Technical officials who inspected the tank reported that it was in a condition where it could collapse at any time. Considering the potential threat to people living nearby, the corporation decided that the structure should be removed immediately.
More than 50 families live in the vicinity of the tank. Keeping their safety in view, the demolition was planned and carried out in coordination with the departments concerned. Necessary safety precautions were put in place and the site was secured before the operation began.
The removal was conducted under expert supervision and with precautions to ensure that no untoward incident occurred during the operation. The corporation said the work was completed safely.
Ramesh said the civic body would continue identifying dilapidated buildings, unused overhead water tanks and other structures that could endanger the public. Such structures would be subjected to technical inspections in phases and, wherever necessary, removed in accordance with the prescribed rules.
The Commissioner said no structure posing a threat to public life would be ignored. Legal and technical action against dangerous buildings and deteriorated public infrastructure would continue, he added.
The corporation also appealed to residents to immediately bring to its notice any dilapidated buildings, old water tanks or other potentially dangerous public structures in their neighbourhoods.
Ramesh said the corporation would continue working with public cooperation to make the city safer and more sustainable.
Officials of Bengaluru East City Corporation, including chief engineers, executive engineers, assistant engineers and technical personnel, along with officials of the departments concerned, were present during the removal operation and completed the exercise.
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