Illegal structures on ‘raja kaluves’ to be cleared

Illegal structures on ‘raja kaluves’ to be cleared

Staff Reporter

Transport Minister R. Ashok visits areas in the city that were flooded during the recent rain

Officials turning blind eye to illegal constructions to be prosecuted

BBMP says there is no loss to property and lives in the city

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

Pouring out woes: A woman narrating her experience of the recent rain to Transport Minister R. Ashok and Bharatiya Janata Party MP Ananth Kumar in Bangalore on Monday.

Bangalore: All illegal structures encroaching on the “raja kaluves” and on government land abutting storm water drains in Bangalore will be removed in a phased manner in the next one year, Transport Minister R. Ashok announced on Monday.

Talking to reporters during visit to areas which were flooded during heavy rain, Mr. Ashok said such a measure initiated at Puttenahalli last year had remarkably reduced flooding from storm water drains during rain.

He also announced that the State Government was contemplating bringing in legislation to make a provision in the law to prosecute officials who turned blind eye to illegal constructions.

Mr. Ashok pointed out that over illegal 60 structures that were either blocking the “raja kaluve” or adjacent to it at Puttenahalli were demolished last year and this model of Puttenahalli would be implemented at other parts of the city keeping interest of public at large.

Meanwhile, the Minister said action will be taken to remodel all major storm water drains on the lines of the ongoing works besides building new storm water drains to prevent flooding at some new areas which were recently added to the city.

Meanwhile, many residents of Vaddarapalya, Sai Nagar near Hennur returned to their houses on Monday after water receded from the area after the BBMP removed obstructions and facilitated free flow of water in the area. The residents had vacated their houses after they were partially flooded in the last couple of days. But residents of Byraveshwaranagar will have to wait for some more time for the water to recede completely as the area is situated next to a storm water drain.

Mallaiah, a resident of Geddalahalli, said that Hennur Main Road was inundated in drain water about a couple of years ago resulting in blocking of traffic on the road for couple of days. The road has been recently reconstructed with higher gradient and this measure has solved the problem of inundation of main road.
Flooding

However, BBMP Joint Commissioner (Byatarayanapura) Virupaksha Mysore said that consequent heavy rains might inundate these layouts again as they are situated in a low lying area and are close to the area where two drains meet.

Meanwhile, though Mr. Ashok along with officials of the BBMP went to Hennur on Monday to visit the rain-affected areas, they could not get down from their vehicles to inspect the areas as heavy rain lashed this part of the city around 2.40 p.m.
Compound wall

The BBMP on Monday decided to break a small portion of a compound wall built in ISRO layout in RMV II Stage as it was obstructing free flow storm water causing flooding in some roads.

BBMP Commissioner S. Subramanya said that there had been no loss or damage to property and lives in the city owing to heavy rain as reported in a section of the media.

In a statement, the Commissioner said that he received calls from the U.S. and the U.K. enquiring as to how safe it would be to come to the city.

He made it clear that the city was safe and people could come without any fear.