No more floods on Mysore Road?

No more floods on Mysore Road?
Twenty-Four Illegal Buildings Blocking Smooth Flow Of Rainwater Being Demolished
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: Twenty-four buildings stood bang on the raja kaluve of Nayandahalli Lake and were the main reason for flooding on the Mysore Road during the October 2005 downpour. While many areas in south, east and south-west were marooned, the Mysore-Bangalore highway was closed for two days.
On Thursday morning, armed with men and machinery, the district administration started demolishing these illegal structures to free the raja kaluve. And the message was loud and clear to encroachers: Evict or get bulldozed.
With three battalions of CRPF personnel, 10 earth movers, 15 heavyduty trucks, cutters, drillers, 25 engineers, and over 100 gang men in tow, the massive operation began under the supervision of Bangalore urban DC M A Sadiq.
The encroachment had wiped out the natural drain that facilitated the flow of rain water out of the city. According to Sadiq, this was the second major operation after Kodigehalli where 64 structures that come up on a drain were demolished.
The eviction drive was possible after a long legal battle. Finally, the high court cleared all stays and reverted the case to special deputy commissioner Rame Gowda. He ordered eviction on August 20 and 10 days were given to occupants to clear the place. The natural drain that begins at the lower end of the Nayandahalli Lake joins the Vrishabhavati Valley. With illegal structures blocking the raja kaluve, a small storm water drain was the only channel for the excess water to flow out.
“Once the encroachments are cleared, the natural drain will be restored. The BBMP has already started drain work at Kodigehalli and soon they will take up works here,’’ Sadiq said.
As Sadiq was overseeing the demolition work, chief minister H D Kumaraswamy called him up to express his support and told him not to show any mercy on the encroachers. Next in the firing line are 31 illegal buildings in Puttenahalli.
toiblr.reporter@timesgroup.com Greater Bangalore areas will get better roads
Bangalore: Major roads in the newly added areas of Greater Bangalore will soon get a facelift. The BBBMP has taken up road works worth Rs 43 crore in Dasarahalli and Byatarayanapura zones.
While 136 roads will be developed at a cost of Rs 15 crore in Byatrayanpura, road works worth Rs 15 crore will be taken up at Yelahanka. Apart from road widening and asphalting, pavements will also be laid.
In the Yelahanka New Town, the double road near Mother Dairy will be widened and the drains will also be remodelled.
At least 31 roads will be developed at a cost of Rs 6.85 crore in Dasarahalli. While Rs 2 crore will be spent for streetlights and Rs 4 crore for other development works.
THE MENACE
Just 61 buildings that stood on raja kaluves of three major tanks were enough to maroon more than half of Bangalore during the October 2005 rain. After the floods, a comprehensive survey undertaken by a committee had revealed that 708 buildings had occupied 29 tanks.
However, three lakes — Nayandahalli Lake on Mysore Road, Sarakki Lake and Puttenahalli Lake off JP Nagar — had overflowed as the primary valleys were blocked.