BBMP striving to make monsoon hassle-free

BBMP striving to make monsoon hassle-free

Staff Reporter

Contingency plan to tackle rain-related problems in place

# Control rooms to be provided better infrastructure
# Special monsoon squads to be deployed

BANGALORE: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is preparing to prevent and tackle rain-related problems this year. Armed with a "strong contingency plan," its officials claim they are all set to make this monsoon hassle-free for citizens.

Several areas were inundated and some people washed away in last year's floods.

The contingency plan includes strengthening of control rooms with personnel and infrastructure; deployment of flood management control squads at areas identified to be prone to inundation; clearing of clogged drains; increasing the height of retaining walls along storm water drains by placing sand bags, desilting drains and so on.

Addressing presspersons here on Saturday, BBMP Commissioner K. Jairaj said that 197 vulnerable points had been identified in April and work on preventing rain damage in these areas had been on.

Funds

"We have set aside Rs. 12 crore for this and more than 75 per cent of work has been completed," he said.

To ensure that calls from people in distress are attended without delay, the BBMP has strengthened its control rooms with increased personnel and infrastructure. "With water logging and inundation of houses in low-lying areas being a common complaint, the palike has always been under fire for lack of quick response. To avoid such problems this year, the civic body will station special monsoon squads at the nearest ward office in all the vulnerable areas," the BBMP Commissioner said.

Contractors entrusted with remodelling of drains along Koramangala, Hebbal, Challaghatta and Vrishabhavathi valleys have been asked to expedite work.

"We have asked them not to heap silt on the sides of the drain," he said.

Following Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's direction, more than 350 shops that have encroached upon the major storm water drain on Nala Road in Shivajinagar are being relocated temporarily. "We will widen the drain and cover it with a concrete bed and then bring back the shops. Our officials have cleared more than 700 encroachments along and above the drains. This apart, dangerous and diseased branches of old trees are being pruned," Mr. Jairaj added.

Control room numbers

The Control Room numbers are as follows: Head Office: 22221188, 22975595, 22100031, 32,33, 34, 35; Health Control Room: 22975585;

East Zone: 22975803; west zone: 23561692; Dasarahalli: 28394909;

Byatarayanapura: 23636677/ 71; Bommanahalli: 25735642;

Mahadevapura: 28512300 and Rajarajeshwarinagar: 28600954