Drains...longkangs...call it what you will.

Drains are a major concern in my work. When friends ask me, 'What's the most frequent complaint you attend to?'. You've guessed it...drains! Clogged drains upset people to the extent that they ring me up at 2 am to disturb my peaceful slumber.

However, clogged drains lead to problems like dengue and pollution. It is common for fallen leaves to cause clogging in drains. Stagnant water provides a great breeding ground for mosquitoes. Councils provide regular drain cleaning services on a monthly basis. Contractors are hired to ensure the cleanliness of drains. It becomes my job to monitor the level of service provided by these contractors.

Some of the drain problems I face in my area are:-

• Delays in carrying out drain cleaning jobs by contractors




• Improper disposal of rubbish removed from the drains by contractors




• Illegal modifications by home owners who cover their drains with concrete slabs, making cleaning of drains impossible




• Dumping of waste into drains (I had the shock of my life once, when I found a 3 seater sofa lodged firmly inside a monsoon drain!)




• Plants and vegetation which shed leaves into drains and distrup the flow of water

I have had plenty of "Gotong Royongs" to deal with these problems. The response is usually lukewarm at best. Most of residents feel the council is solely responsible for the upkeep of their drains, which is true to a certain extent. However, residents play a vital role in keeping their drains clean; responsible management of household waste and proper clearing of fallen leaves from their gradens help alleviate problems.

Most drains have a long life span unless there is a severe case of soil erosion which destroys drains. Service roads in a residential area can't cope with heavy vechiles like lorries or trailers, as this causes drains and roads to sink and collapse. Although councils regularly spend money on the maintenance of drains but now, as contruction materials become more expensive, repair costs have escalated.

If you have problems as those discussed above do forward your complaints to the local councilor of your area. In addition to this, complaints should be accompanied with photographs.