Authorities Finally Wake Up To Floods In Bengaluru, Buildings Blocking Water Flow To Be Removed
The Karnataka government and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) which came under heavy criticism after the Karnataka capital was flooded yet again due to heavy rains seem to be in damage control mode now.
On Wednesday Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka said that the government has decided to "mercilessly" remove properties blocking rainwater flow.
Remove construction blocking water flow
He said the Disaster Management Act permits "merciless removal" of blocks causing water stagnation.
¡°Our Municipal Corporation officers have identified 10 bottlenecks. In a day or two, the demolition drive will start. We have told the officers to be merciless while implementing the drive without attending to any phone calls," the minister said on Wednesday.
Earlier Chief Minister Bommai said there was waterlogging in many residential layouts because the developers did not build a proper drain. He added that all such blocks would be removed.
He said the State government has released Rs 1,500 crore for the construction of drains.
Rampant construction activities, both legal and illegal, sometimes blocking the path of stormwater, which usually flow into the city's lakes have been blamed for the frequent flooding in Bengaluru.
Bengaluru flooded, yet again
Heavy rains since Monday, once again brought the IT hub to its knees, as cities, roads and streets got flooded.
The waterlogging had resulted in many residents getting stranded on the road, for hours.
Frustrated citizens had called out their elected representatives for failing the city and its people once again during the rains.
Unscientific highway construction
Among the flooded roads was the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway, which is part of the much-touted Bengaluru-Malappuram economic corridor.
Construction of the Rs 7,000 crore, 10-lane expressway that has a length of 117 km is projected to be completed next month.
However, after the flooding on Monday which has raised the viability of the project, CM Bommai, who visited the region said that "unscientific work in the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway" will be fixed soon.
Floods will happen every monsoon
Activists and environmentalists have alleged that waterways of 35 lakes have been encroached for the expressway and a detailed analysis of the project will not only expose a lack of planning but also design flaws.?
They also said flooding of the highway on multiple stretches will become a regular during every monsoon.
Bengaluru's lost lakes
A BBMP report in December 2021 had stated that only 28 lakes in Bengaluru were free of encroachments.
It said that out of the 6,426.47 acres of lakes, a total of 941.67 acres have been encroached upon.
Out of this, 764.32 acres were encroached by the government.
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