BBMP geared up to face rain related problems
Control rooms, 24/7 helplines, special squads, involvement of public form contingency plan
The State government on Monday set in place a contingency plan to tackle rain related problems in Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits.
Control rooms, 24/7 helplines, special squads and involvement of resident associations as ‘samparka bandhus’ to provide information on rain havoc in their areas form part of the contingency plan.
Addressing a press conference in Bangalore after presiding over a high-level meeting to finalise the plan, Transport Minister R Ashok said BBMP is gearing up to ensure that there are no rain-related problems this year.
Ashok, who is along with minister Katta Subramanya Naidu, is district in-charge minister of Bangalore, said four control rooms have been set up by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to receive rain related complaints and will operate round the clock. The BBMP has set up 10 control rooms, one for each zone.
Dedicated team
Each unit will have a dedicated team of staff comprising engineers and 10-15 gangmen.
They will have at their disposal an ambulance, JCBs, two lorries, sewer jetting vehicles, van, pumps, cutting machines, generators to meet any exigencies during rains. (For control room telephone numbers see box).
The BWSSB has been directed to close all manholes within a week. In addition, as many as 196 low-lying areas that are prone to inundation during rains have been identified in BBMP jurisdiction. Strict directions have been given to assistant executive engineers to visit these areas immediately after rain, irrespective of whether they receive any complaint or not. Citizens who have come forward or resident welfare associations have been enrolled as ‘samparka bandhus’ to provide information on the flood situation in their areas.
Temporary rehabilitation centres have been identified to accommodate the affected in case of heavy rains. As many as 10 community halls have been identified in each zone to function as rehabilitation centres, Ashok said. Encroachment of storm water drain will be cleared on a priority basis, he added.
The health department has also taken precautions to keep mosquito breeding in control. Extensive pest control measures will be taken up during monsoon. Fogging machines will be repaired and kept ready, he said.
BBMP control rooms
* BBMP Headquarters: 22221188, 22975595, 22100031, 32, 33, 34, 35
* BBMP HQ Health: 22975585
* East Zone: 22975803
* West Zone: 23561692
* South Zone: 26566362
* Rajarajeshwarinagar Zone: 28600954
* Bommanahalli Zone: 25735642
* Mahadevapura Zone: 28512301
* Bydarayanapura Zone: 23636677
* Dasarahalli zone: 28394909
BWSSB control rooms
* CGF, Malleswaram: 22945240
* Hosahalli, Vijayanagar: 22945186
* Jayanagar: 22945150
* HAL II Stage, Indiranagar: 22945163
