Can Bangalore cope with Mumbai-like rains Part 1

Is City ready to weather storm?

Deccan Herald

This is the first part of the three-part series on Bangalore’s preparedness to face unforeseen and heavy rainfall.


CAN WE COPE

Flooded roads, battered infrastructure, traffic jams, power cuts, fallen trees, deaths and destruction and 100 centimetres of non-stop rainfall have shaken Mumbai. In Bangalore, even moderate showers make citizens suffer similar woes.

Is Bangalore ready to face the Great Indian Floods?


Deccan Herald does a reality check on our preparedness.



As television channels flash image after image of Mumbai’s watery grave, Bangaloreans are shuddering. We have seen it all – the destruction that comes with the rain. Ironically, it does not take “excessive rain” to cause floods here, even “insufficient rain” can bring about similar consequences. Under such circumstances, what if the monsoons turn moody, and we are to find ourselves at the receiving end? Are we prepared?

While Bangaloreans may dread to answer that question, the Bangalore Mahanagar Palike is shrugging it off. Not because it thinks its infrastructure facilities are “flood-proof”, but because it is cocksure of the weather.

“Mumbai usually receives heavy rain, but this year, it received 40 per cent of its annual rain within two days, which resulted in flooding. But Bangalore’s annual rainfall is not very high, so there is no question of such a situation arising here,” says BMP Commissioner K Jothiramalingam.

Even topography-wise, Bangalore enjoys a distinct advantage with its hilly terrain unlike Mumbai, which is at sea level.

However, the BMP claims to be making provisions for the moody monsoons. Remodelling work on the four major valleys – Koramangala, Challaghatta, Hebbal and Vrishabhavathi – is the most important among them. Taken up at a cost of Rs 500 crore, it involves desilting, widening, bed treatment and strengthening of walls of all 11 primary and 77 secondary drains coming under BMP limits. Additional facilities include recharging of pits every 10 metres on primary drains, silt traps, trash guards and ‘pitching’ or revetment of drains at particular points. The project’s progress is limited for now as remodelling work has been taken up only at the Koramangala and Challaghatta valleys.

The desilting work is over at the Koramangala Valley, that covers a stretch of 13 km of primary drains and 58 km of secondary drains, and now the bed concreting work is on. Desilting is still going on at Challaghatta Valley, where work has been distributed in three packages.

Meanwhile, out of the five packages reserved for remodelling work at Vrishabhavathi Valley, a letter of interest was given to National Project Construction Corporation on June 30 for two packages, and the tender process is on for them. However, one package did not receive any response, and it will be retendered again, informed Puttamaligaiah, Executive Engineer (Infrastructure, BMP).

As for the Hebbal Valley, that covers the stretch from J C Nagar to Nagwara tank, tenders have been invited and one has already been sent to the Council for approval.

“Ten per cent of the remodelling work has been done, and we intend to complete the entire project within 18-24 months,” Puttamaligaiah said.

If you get stuck on water-clogged streets after a downpour, it is your fault, says Jothiramalingam. According to the Commissioner, the drainage system in Bangalore is built in such a way that it can drain rainwater only in an hour’s time. “People are on the roads as soon as the rain stops, creating traffic jams and blocking the accumulated water from flowing out. People should stay indoors for at least an hour after the rain stops, so that the roads can be cleared,” Mr Jothiramalingam says.

We are ready for any natural calamity, said Mr Jothiramalingam. There are nearly 100 people on night shift as standby in case of emergencies. Six to seven emergency vehicles and four ambulances are also provided. “We keep in touch with the Met department by the hour for forecasts.” “We have taken proactive action against floods, unlike Mumbai. Bangaloreans have nothing to worry,” he added.

BMP’s 4 valleys remodelling plan

Name of valley, Primary drain, Secondary drain, Total length (metres), Work done

Koramangala 2 20 56,135 desilting, bed concreting

Challaghatta 2 7 26,745 desilting

Hebbal 4 17 51,655 pending

Vrishabhavathi 3 33 90,420 pending