Rain puts a stop to relief measures

Rain puts a stop to relief measures
Deccan Herald

Though the heavy rain has created flooding problems in most low-lying areas, long-term measures can be taken up only after the monsoons stop totally.

“Let the monsoons end” seems to be the latest mantra that is being chanted by civic authorities when asked about the measures undertaken by civic authorities to tackle flooding of houses in low lying areas across Bangalore.

For instance, long-term respite is still a long way off for the residents of HSR Layout, sector VI and VII, whose houses have been inundated with water. In this case, any action to mitigate the damage will be undertaken by civic authorities only after the end of monsoon.

As of today, more than 750-800 houses continue to be submerged in more than 3-feet deep water. Largely, the road-cut made to HSR Layout by Bommanahalli City Municipal Corporation and corporators to let out excess water inundating the neighbouring Madina Nagar due to the overflow in Begur lake has led to this situation.

Rahmathullah, a resident of HSR Layout said he had put up a make-shift tent on his terrace to get away from the flooding.

“Some residents have already moved out of the area as they could not make any alternate arrangements,” he said.

According to Bommanahalli CMC Commissioner H N Udayashankar, a proposal has been sent to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) to increase the vent of the storm water drains and to conduct de-silting work of the existing canals. But all the long-term plans can be carried out when the rainy season ends, he added.

Meanwhile, the day-long inspection conducted jointly by BDA and CMC authorities has revealed that a majority of these low-lying areas that have been inundated with water has been encroached upon, resulting in blocking of storm water canals. Stop-gap arrangement like pumping off water and cleaning of the storm water canals is being undertaken by the CMC in the sectors coming under their jurisdiction.

Puttenahalli lake

The situation is no different for the residents near Puttenahalli lake-shore area. According to M A Sadiq, Deputy Commissioner of Bangalore Urban District, temporary and stop-gap arrangements like installing JCB’s to make way for the excess water and spraying the area with pesticides to prevent the outbreak of an epidemic has been carried out.

However, the long-term solution to the problem will happen only if the work of constructing the storm water drains by Bangalore Mahanagara Palike is carried out.

“For the work to resume, the monsoons will have to end. We have requested BMP to speed up the process,” he said.