Blame game begins over flooding in southeastern Bengaluru

Govt depts accuse one another of neglecting SWDs

Lack of coordination among various government departments and poorly-maintained stormwater drains (SWDs) and culverts are said to be the prime reasons for the flooding witnessed in southeast Bengaluru areas after the last week’s rains.

As water levels are receding, the blame game has begun among elected representatives, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials and the forest department.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, who is BTM Layout MLA, and Bommanahalli MLA Satish Reddy blamed the  forest department and the Karnataka Lake Development and Conservation Authority for poor maintenance of the Madiwala and Kodichikkanahalli lakes by not permitting works. But the forest department and KLCDA blame the BBMP for the breach of lakes.

“Six months ago I requested the BBMP to desilt the drains. Last Wednesday, BBMP Commissioner B N Manjunath Prasad and I tried to reach the forest department to desilt the SWDs and clear the mud drain between Akshaynagar and Central Silk Board, but they did not heed it,” Satish Reddy said.

Ramalinga Reddy admitted that there was a lack of coordination between the BBMP and the forest department. “After Chief Secretary and I inspected the sites, desilting of 2.3 km of SWDs from Kodichakanahalli to Madiwala lake has started,” he said.

Dipika Bajpai, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Bengaluru Urban, said the BBMP desilted the stormwater drains in March 2016 at a cost of Rs 20 lakh. Documents pertaining to this have been submitted to Chief Secretary Arvind Jadhav.

G Vidyasagar, Chief Executive Officer, KLCDA, said: “Had desilting been done properly by the contractor concerned, flooding would not have happened. However, a notice was issued to forest department last Friday seeking explanation on clearing the drain and desilting the diversion channels. They have also been asked to explain why the diversion channels
of Madiwala lake were not deepened.”

“I have inspected the Belandur, Agara and Madiwala lake series. The stormwater drains are functioning. The water inlets and outlets in the Madiwala are working. The Madiwala lake could not take the load because the culvert on public road near KAS Officers Colony is blocked.

“This culvert falls under the BBMP limits. Had a bridge been constructed near the KAS Officers Colony, this would not have happened. We have also noticed encroachments in the Hulimavu lake series near Akshaynagar, because of which drains are blocked. 

After the detailed survey is completed, notices will be slapped on the BBMP and encroachers as per KLCDA Act,” Vidyasagar said.
DH News Service