61 buildings flooded city

61 buildings flooded city
Eviction Panel Says Illegal Structures Block Rajakaluves
The TImes of India

Bangalore: Just 61 buildings were behind the marooning of more than half of Bangalore last October! They sit illegally on the rajakaluve (canal) of three major tanks, blocking the flow of water and leading to flooding.

A comprehensive survey by the high-power land encroachment eviction committee has revealed that 708 unauthorised constructions are blocking the main canals of 29 tanks such as Begur, Sarakki, Puttenahalli, Madivala, Agara, Bellandur and Nagawara. The worst affected were Nayandanahalli on Mysore Road, Sarakki tank and Puttenahalli lakes off JP Nagar. The primary valleys here were blocked by the 61 buildings comprising sheet houses, commercial complexes and high-rise apartments.

After the deluge last October, then CM Dharam Singh visited the area and formed the committee. Headed by the BDA commissioner, it was entrusted the task of identifying encroachment of valleys and evicting them.

“All the rajakaluves of the tanks which take excess water have been clogged, which resulted in the deluge. In some places, a 16-ft valley has been reduced to a mere 4 feet. Even the wasteweir outlets (a channel that carries excess water) have been blocked. Before this year’s monsoon, steps should be initiated to clear the encroachments and free the valleys,’’ M A Sadiq, Bangalore urban deputy commissioner and member secretary of the committee, told The Times of India.

Nayandanahalli lake’s wasteweir is blocked by 24 buildings, affecting Mysore Road and Rajarajeshwarinagar. The primary valley at Puttenahalli lake has 28 illegal buildings and Sarakki lake’s rajakaluve has been blocked by 9 buildings, flooding Bangalore south areas, it says.

Sadiq has issued eviction notices to owners of 61 buildings under the Land Revenue Act. They have obtained a High Court stay and the case has been posted for May 29. Sadiq has apprised the advocate-general of the situation.

“The CM has already inspected the flood-affected areas twice. The government has directed us to clear the encroachments before the next monsoon to avoid flooding. Once the cases are disposed of, we will go ahead with the demolition,’’ he said.

Two lakes on Bellary Road — Hebbal and Nagawara — also overflowed and flooded adjacent areas. Here the encroachments have already been cleared.

Meanwhile, the BDA is contemplating acquiring nearly two acres of land to construct drains and widen roads in Puttenahalli. The authorities have identified more than 500 buildings in the area that will need to be acquired.

Measures to fight flooding

The clogged 3 ft dia pipes linked to the wasteweir in Puttenahalli lake being cleaned.
Sand bags to be stacked up around sensitive points.
New earth moving equipment and water pumping machines have been purchased.
Desilting of drains being done in Byatarayanapura, Bommanahalli and Rajarajeshwarinagar CMCs.