ROADS GO FOR A TOSS
Bangalore roads have been left in a shambles, after three days of heavy downpour. Potholes have surfaced on almost every road and, in many places, the top layer of asphalt simply doesn’t exist, making it extremely difficult to ride on these stretches.

So much so that even flyovers are not exceptions to the pothole rule. The Mysore Road flyover, for one, is sporting huge potholes. Water-logging and overflowing of rain water from drains have taken a heavy toll on roads and flyovers in the City, according to Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials.
Besides, rubble and slush from potholes and mud dumped recklessly on the sides of roads following digging by various civic agencies, have made the condition of roads worse. Many footpaths too are in an abysmal condition.
Worst-hit are those in the southern parts of the City where it rained heavily. Shantinagar Double Road, Hosur Road, J P Nagar 6th Phase, Lal Bagh Road, N R Road, J C Road, Mysore Road, Magadi Road, Nagarabhavi Road, stretches of Race Course Road, Cunningham Road, Miller’s Road, Rajajinagar Entrance Road and many others have been badly hit, while it is virtually impossible to ride on roads in Puttenahalli and Nayandahalli, which witnessed heavy flooding.

Repair in 15 days
When contacted, BBMP Engineer-in-chief Gopalaswamy assured that all damaged roads would be repaired within 15 days. BBMP has procured “emulsion” (cold tar) to fill potholes. “Using cold tar, we can fill potholes even during rains. Ten barrels of cold tar have been dispatched to each ward office and they have been directed to take the work immediately,” he added.

Though several roads are affected due to rains, the damage is not as much as it was last year. “However, the pace of road repair works depends on the weather. If it continues to rain, the works may be slow,” he stated.

NO POWER SUPPLY
Residents of J P Nagar 4th, 5th and 6th phases will not have power supply for the next three days. All thanks to BBMP’s work to convert a road perpendicular to 17th Cross of J P Nagar, into a drain.

The Palike took up the work to provide a way out for water collected in Puttenahally Tank. Water in the tank reached the brim following heavy rains, causing tension for residents in the locality. As the work began on Sunday afternoon, power supply to almost 5,000 installations in the limits of nine transformers in J P Nagar was stopped.

Bescom said that power supply has been cut because many electricity cables passed beneath the road which is being converted into a drain. “We will make alternate arrangements for supply of power to the affected areas within three days,” officials said.

WORK HITS TRAFFIC

Traffic movement on Mysore Road was affected on Sunday as the Palike took up widening of the storm water drain connecting Nayandahalli Tank and Vrishabhavati Valley. The Palike decided to widen the drain as water in the tank had reached the brim after the heavy rains. The two-lane road was converted into one-lane to facilitate smooth progress of the work.

Chief Engineer (South) B T Ramesh, said the work was started on Saturday and would be completed by Monday morning. Walls of 10 structures constructed encroaching the stormwater drain are being demolished for widening. As many as five earth-movers and 100 labourers are involved in the work.

Health Minister R Ashok, who is also in-charge of Bangalore, spent nearly six hours at the BBMP main control room on N R Square, monitoring the rain relief operations, on Saturday.

MINISTER ON CALL

Though Saturday was a holiday on account of Ganesha Chaturthi, the Minister arrived at the control room at around 8.30 am and was there till 2 pm. He came back at around 8 pm and monitored the relief operations till 10 am.

“He received phone calls from rain-affected people. He introduced himself as the Minister to every person who called and spoke patiently,” BBMP officials said on Sunday.

The Minister directed the officials to demolish all illegal houses built on storm water drains and clear the way for smooth flow of rain water.

The BBMP has intensified demolition of unauthorised constructions that have come up in storm water drain valleys in the City. Bytarayanapura Zone staff demolished as many as 10 structures, including a five-floor apartment complex, on Sunday.

BBMP Joint Commissioner Jayaram said the Palike has intensified demolition of unauthorised constructions which are compounding rain-related problems.

DEMOLITION DRIVE

“We have demolished 10 constructions in Bhadrappa Layout. The demolished constructions include one commercial building and an apartment complex”, Jayaram  said.

BBMP conducted special health check-up camps in rain-affected areas on Sunday. The special camps were organised as a precautionary measure to avoid spread of water-borne diseases in the wake of heavy rains in the City.

Ambulances with doctors and other staff conducted the camp in 40 rain-affected areas of the City. Apart from 10 Palike ambulances, 35 from different hospitals of the City and neighbouring districts were utilised.

HEALTH CAMPS

Health Minister R Ashok inaugurated the camps by flagging of ambulances at the Palike office.

The Minister said that so far no incident of epidemic disease had been reported. However, the Palike is prepared to tackle the spread of diseases, he said.

Joint Commissioner (Health) B V Kulkarni said that new zones of the Palike were given more attention during the camp.

“As there is no supply of Cauvery water in the new areas, residents are depending on private tankers. We have informed people to use only boiled water and distributed halogen tablets to purify drinking water,” he said.