The 4 villain flood areas

The 4 villain flood areas
The TImes of India

Bangalore: Can an entire colony in Madiwala get flooded because of 20 houses in Koramangala?

Yes, it can, aided by a simple fact that these structures stand atop storm water drains, blocking the water flow of surrounding areas. A survey undertaken by the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike on identifying crucial encroachments that endanger the city during rain or other contingencies, has found that it’s just a question of a few layouts and buildings which are flooding Bangalore.

The culprit areas are: a layout at Koramangala, a narrow road of shops and establishments and houses at Chikpet, Chalaghatta Road to Airport Road along the Chalaghatta valley and parts of Shivajinagar and Vasanthnagar.

Surveyors found that these places were affecting the flow of rainwater as also drain water in the surrounding areas, creating an artificial flood. BMP joint commissioner Harsh Gupta says: “These are, prima facie,
encroachments. When a building is constructed right on the edge of a drain bridge, chances of it falling during rain are very high. What’s worse, desilting becomes difficult because even if there is a slight damage to the wall, the entire building could crumble.’’

Which is why the areas have been called ‘critical areas’. And this is just the beginning. At the identified ‘critical areas’, it has so far been found that the 20-ft drains were reduced by half, leading to stagnation and water gushing into homes and water levels refusing to recede.

Problem identified and recognised, what next?

BMP officials fear that should they land at these encroachments for demolishing, there could be a law and order problem created by people. The caveat, however, is that there have been instances where residents have mobilised crowds and chased away BMP personnel when they arrive to take corrective action.

If your house doesn’t have a setback area of 3 feet and if the area is prone to flooding, watch out! The surveyors are at work.

DEFAULTERS
* Ashwini Layout, Koramangala, just after National Games Village
* Chikpet, behind Shantala Silk House, up to Journalists’ Colony
* Chalaghatta to Airport Road
* Vasanthnagar to Shivajinagar