Lack of planning, corruption have destroyed natural drainage system

Lack of planning, corruption have destroyed natural drainage system
The Hindu

Construction on what used to be lakes did not take place overnight but was the result of years of indifference and corruption. Our readers say strict building laws should be enacted for CMC areas, instead of hastily merging these municipalities with the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike.

Flooding inevitable

Heavy rain in decades has exposed the fragile infrastructure of Bangalore.

While the city proper escaped the fury, the CMC areas suffered the most because of lack of proper town planning.

One fact stands out; unless scientific town planning, which takes into account all factors such as topography and vagaries of climate, is followed, there will be a series of similar natural disasters.

R. Surya Rao,

Malleswaram

Involve experts

Heavy rainfall has affected the roads the most. Any re-engineering exercise should involve experts, even expertise from abroad, and the use of material and techniques that can withstand heavy rain. At least the rebuilding of the most important roads can be outsourced, after carefully selecting the contractors. The cheapest is not always the best. Public money should be spent wisely and with careful consideration.

G. Lokesh,

Lingarajapuram

Restore lakes

What happened in Bangalore was largely man-made. Lakes were encroached upon by the public and myopic government agencies. Lakebeds are littered with plastic waste, which choke their outlets and the drainage system. There is a need to carefully consider the connections between urban ambitions and lake ecology and the politics of remaking the city's waterscapes. Why disturb nature's equilibrium and invite disaster?

K. Harikrishnan,

Wilson Garden

Plan growth

Let there be no more unplanned growth, not even on the city outskirts. People have suffered enough. The idea of merging all the city municipal councils with the BMP may not be a wise move.

The Government can instead enact a law for all the City Municipal Councils around Bangalore, including those that may be created in future. These laws should incorporate zoning regulations and building bylaws with provision for large storm water channels, linked to lakes or tanks.

Prabha Murthy,

New Thippasandra

Revive channels

We need to urgently revive the old system of large channels for rain runoff, linked to a series of lakes and tanks all around the city. Hasty measures such as bringing all CMCs under the city corporation defeats the objective of more decentralisation. The residents in CMC areas, who suffered the most, should together raise their voice. Public opinion has to be built against short-sighted planning, which allows layouts to come up on lake beds and beds. The "builders' lobby" should be taught a lesson.

K. Sathyanarayana,

N.R Colony

Remodel drainage

Residents should be taught not to throw plastic waste into the drains.

The Government's plan to remodel the drainage system is timely. What exists was built for the needs of a much smaller population and not for six million or more.

The role of Bangalore Water Supply and Drainage Board (BWSSB) appears to be limited and the Lakes Development Authority should be given more powers. Right now its almost toothless.

Sheila Raj,

Cox Town

Preserve channels

For years, society has been shouting itself hoarse against thoughtless and unplanned "development".

The havoc created by unprecedented rain has justified this.

Let there be no more tampering with our natural heritage in terms of lakes and tanks and the channels leading to them.

For decades, they prevented flooding. Now, it may be too late but we can at least preserve the remaining water bodies.

K. Srikanth,

Basavanagudi

Indifference

If the CMCs did not follow proper town planning norms and zoning regulations, the Government is equally to blame for turning a blind eye. After all, construction on what used to be lakes did not take place overnight but was the result of years of indifference and corruption. It is better to enact laws on town planning for CMCs rather than hastily merge them with the city corporation. Decentralisation should not be done away with.

Aruna Sriram,

Jayanagar

Storm water drains

All major roads need to have large storm water drains, covered but with closely spaced vents. There should be a series of connected, underground drains that eventually lead to a large lake. Even artificial lakes can be created if older ones are beyond revival.

Rainwater harvesting should be encouraged on a massive scale and no builder should be allowed to turn lakes and tanks into residential developments or commercial complexes as has happened in the past.

Karen Anand,

Austin Town

NEXT WEEK: Demolition of "unauthorised" constructions in a suburb has led to public agitation. Zoning norms and building bylaws are often violated and realised only years later. Are the civic administration and town planners to blame for not having monitored buildings at their construction stage itself? Readers are invited to send their views to The Hindu, 19 and 21, Bhagwan Mahaveer Road, Bangalore 560 001 or email bglreflections@thehindu.co.in.

Malleswaram