BDA sinks Bengaluru

BDA sinks Bengaluru
BY CHANDRASHEKAR G.
BENGALURU


Article Rank



People in the city are running out of patience. Every year monsoon brings a heavy downpour of woes as their houses are inundated by flood water.
Experts blame this on the massive encroachment of lakes where several layouts have come up over the years. The Bangalore Development Authority has come in for strident criticism from the public for giving permission to form layouts around lakes.

“It is not just BBMP’s fault. The BDA is equally to be blamed. It is due to the negligence of BDA authorities’ that scores of people are in misery as they have allowed formation of layouts in low-lying areas and tank beds,” said Rekha Jossen, one of the residents of Sai Garden apartment in Whitefield which has been the biggest sufferer whenever there is a downpour. Like Sai Garden, there are many layouts which have been approved by BDA without bothering to verify where these layouts are coming up.

“Our houses have been inundated and our belongings damaged incurring us huge losses running into several lakhs of rupees. Sai Garden is a BDA approved layout and it is not something that has come up without their knowledge,” she said. BDA authorities should be punished for giving their stamp of approval to layouts that are not properly planned or those that come up on raja kaluves, she said.

How does BDA expect the public to know about such complex issues, she questioned. “The BDA has to fix the drains and ensure that such layouts do not come up.” BDA being the planning authority which brings out a master plan once in 10 years for planned growth of Bengaluru, how could it develop layouts in low lying areas, questioned an RTI activist Amaresh S. “Due to the nexus between builders and BDA officials, BDA layout formation norms have been flouted. It must be ensured that proper drainage system is provided. If the storm water drain or valley is running along the layout, BDA must be doubly alert to have it covered,” Mr Amaresh added.

Some layouts in Banshankari, HRBR layout, Koramangala, Domlur, HSR, ST Bed at Srinivagilu, HAL stage II near Kodihalli, Sarakki and JP Nagar have been developed by BDA in low lying areas. These areas are marooned due to heavy rainfall. BBMP commissioner S. Subramanya too blamed BDA for developing layouts in low lying areas and said unplanned layouts like Dollars Colony, RMV Extension at Mathikere, Koramangala layout at Ejipura lead to flooding. RMV Extension at Mathikere has been formed on the bed of Lottegollahalli lake.

Even houses in Arkavathi Layout at Hennur is flooded during the rain as it runs along a major storm water drain and is located in a low lying area, said Mr Ramakrishna S., a resident of Byraveshwara Layout.

BDA commissioner Siddaiah said some layouts like RMV Extension and RT Nagar developed by BDA faced problems due to heavy rain. RMV Extension was handed over to BBMP in the 1980s and there was no problem for over two decades.

However, BDA regulates unauthorised layouts under its jurisdiction, he said. “People have been warned not to form unauthorised layouts. Formation of unauthorised layouts without BDA approval will attract penalty as well as imprisonment if convicted under the KTCP Act,” he said.

lost lakes Some of the lakes and what they are today: ? Sarakki Agrahara Lake/Doresanipalya JP Nagar IV Phase ? Chinnagara LakeEjipura ? Challaghatta LakeKarnataka Golf Association ? Domulur LakeDomlur II Stage ? Geddalahalli Lake RMV II Stage, 1st Block ? Nagashettihalli Lake- RMV II Stage, 2nd Block ? Kadirenahalli Lake Banashankari II Stage ? Tumkur LakeMysore Lamps ? Ketamaranahalli Lake – Rajajinagar (Mahalakshmipuram) ? Gangashetty Lake Minerva Mills & open ground ? Dharmambudhi Lake - Kempegowda Bus Terminal ? Kalasipalya LakeKalasipalya ? Sampangi LakeKanteerava Stadium ? Shule Tank Ashoknagar Football Stadium ? Akkitimma TankSai Hockey Stadium ? Sunkal Tank KSRTC Regional workshop ? Koramangala LakeNational Dairy Research Institute ? Kodihalli Lake New Tippasandra/government buildings, Hoskere Residential Railway Stockyard ? Sonnenehalli Lake Austin Town (RES Colony) ? Gokula Tank Mattikere ? Hennur Lake Nagavara (HBR Layout) ? Vijinapura Lake (Kotturu) Rajarajeshwai Layout ? Vijayanagar Chord Road Lake Vijayanagar ? Oddarapalaya Lake - Rajajinagar Industrial Area ? Saneguruvanahalli Lake -Shivanahalli (Play Ground)/KSPCB buildings ? Kurubarahalli Lake - Basaveshwaranaga