Governor holds meeting on rain havoc in Bangalore

Governor holds meeting on rain havoc in Bangalore

The Hindu

Implement Chief Minister's directions, officials told Implement Chief Minister's directions, officials told

# Governor's advice Initiate short- and long-term measures
# Find permanent remedies
# Ensure that work is of good quality
# All corporators should respond to problems

BANGALORE: A day after Bangalore and its suburbs began recovering from "the heaviest rainfall over a weekend in recent years," top officials of the administration explained to Governor T.N. Chaturvedi what went wrong.

Mr. Chaturvedi held a review meeting on Tuesday with K. Jothiramalingam, Commissioner of the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP); S.K. Pattanayak, Chairman of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB); and M. Shamim Banu, Principal Secretary, Urban Development, according to official sources.

"The Governor wanted to familiarise himself with the situation and know the action taken by various civic agencies,'' sources said. Mr. Chaturvedi asked the officials to take serious note of the directions given by Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh during his visit to some of the rain-affected areas on Monday.

Among the issues discussed was the remodelling of the storm water channels in J.P. Nagar and Bommanhalli, where floodwaters were beginning to recede, as there was no heavy rainfall since Monday night. Officials were asked about plans to clear encroachments on the Puttenahalli lakebed and its banks, about desilting of storm water channels, and the need for building new drains. Construction of underground drainage in phases in new layouts and in areas under city municipal councils, and the creation of canals linking Bellandur Lake and its desilting came up for discussion, it is learnt.

The clearing of the channels in the Tavarekere-Madiwala Valley and the unauthorised covering of storm water drains in J.P. Nagar and Koramangala were discussed with the officials, sources said.

The Governor gave directions for both short- and long-term measures and told the officials to find a permanent solution for the problem of flooded roads and roadside drains. He also reviewed the progress of some World Bank-aided projects and the choking of drains by plastic waste and landfills in low-lying areas. Mr. Jothiramalingam and Ms. Shamim Banu explained to Mr. Chatuvedi the progress of the World Bank-funded programmes and the construction of tertiary drains in Koramangala, clearing of storm water channels and solid waste management in the city.

The Governor said he expected all corporators to take interest in alleviating the difficulties of people in rain-affected areas. He emphasised that works already taken up and those nearing completion should be of good quality.

Instead of "fire fighting," the administration should think of permanent remedies, he said.