CM adds to traffic jams

Chief Minister promises solution to city's floods in two days

The Hindu

Blames improper planning in city municipal council limits on the outskirts of city



ON THE EDGE: Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh (second from right), Bharatiya Janata Party leader H.N. Ananth Kumar (right) and some of the Ministers during an inspection of rain-affected Hosur Road in Bangalore on Wednesday. — Photo: K. Gopinat han

BANGALORE: Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh on Wednesday pointed out that improper planning of layouts in the surrounding city municipal council (CMC) areas has caused extensive flooding in the city after the recent rains.

Mr. Dharam Singh was speaking to presspersons after visiting the rain-affected areas in the city.

The Chief Minister said the State Government will soon study the reasons for the mushrooming of unplanned layouts in CMC areas.

"We will decide what can be done about it later. At the moment we are more concerned about solving the problems of people in the rain affected areas," he said.

He said the State Government is ready to tackle any emergency situation following the rains, the Chief Minister said: "There is no dearth of funds. We have sanctioned Rs. 100 crores to carry out rain relief measures throughout the State. Of this, Rs. 30 crores has been released. More funds will be released if required," he said.

He assured the people of urban areas that all rain related problems will be set right within the next two days.

The Chief Minister said that the high-level committee set up to monitor disaster management will meet on Thursday to decide which work should be taken up on priority.

The Chief Minister appreciated the efforts of the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) and other service providers in helping affected people.

"The BMP has set up 21 relief centres, where over 150 displaced families have been rehabilitated.

It is providing food, clothing and medical care to the affected families.

This apart, Rs. 9 lakhs compensation has been given to relatives of those who have lost their lives following the rains," he said.

To a question, Mr. Dharam Singh said the Government will seek advice from experts on how to ensure that water bodies in the city, especially the Sankey Tank and the Ulsoor Lake are protected.

Deputy Chief Minister M.P. Prakash said the Government is thinking whether the seven CMCs can be merged with the BMP for better municipal administration.

"This proposal is before us for sometime and we are studying the pros and cons of merging the CMCs with the BMP. A decision will be taken soon," he said.

The Chief Minister inspected relief work carried out on the water logged roads near Central Silk Board junction in Madivala and Agara Lake junction near HSR Layout on Sarjapur Ring Road. He inspected work on the repair of a portion of a retaining wall of the Ulsoor Lake, which had collapsed during Saturday's rains.

Traffic jams

The Chief Minister's convoy of over 20 vehicles had to witness traffic jams on the Hosur Road (between Military School and Christian Cemetery), Koramangala-Madivala junction, Central Silk Board junction, and the entire Ring Road till Agara Road junction.

Traffic was hit because people had gathered on the pavements to see the convoy pass.

At one place, near the Bommanahalli junction in Madivala, people blocked the road forcing the convoy to take a U-turn.

Besides Mr. Prakash, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President M. Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also the Transport Minister, Mayor R. Narayanaswamy, several city MLAs and top officials accompanied the Chief Minister.