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Experts junk BBMP's move to concretise stormwater drains

Last Updated 03 August 2016, 20:24 IST

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) proposal to concretise stormwater drains (SWDs) for easy maintenance and to reduce flooding, has been rubbished by environmentalists and experts. They say the proposal is not only futile but also an expensive exercise.

A BBMP official working on SWDs told Deccan Herald that the department was waiting for a formal nod from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for the proposal. Work on concretising SWDs has already started in Challakere in K R Puram and near the Hulimavu and Madiwala lakes.

“The total length of SWDs in Bengaluru is 842 km and the cost of concretising one kilometre costs Rs 7 crore. Huge funds are required to cover all the SWDs and thus the BBMP is waiting for the final nod from the Chief Minister,” the official said. 

The BBMP will concretise drains in three ways: building box drains, U-safe drains and constructing retaining walls in all primary and secondary drains. 

The idea, however, has been rejected by the Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority. A senior official from the Authority said that instead of concretising the SWDs, the BBMP should properly clean and improve connectivity between the lakes by clearing encroachments. The civic agency should just desilt drains properly and maintain inlets and outlets. There is no need to waste tax payers money on concretising drains, the official added.

Prof T V Ramachandra from Centre of Ecological Sciences, Energy and Wetland Research Group, IISc said that concretising will reduce the width of drains and hinder the natural flow of water. This will lead to more flooding. Instead, the BBMP should remove the blockages. Of the 872 km of SWDs, 370 km is encroached upon and the Palike should concentrate on clearing them. Encroachments are evident on drains and rajakaluves around Kodichikkanahalli and the BBMP is not clearing them, he added.

Adding to this Sharatchandra Lele, Senior Fellow and Convenor, Centre for Environment and Development, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment, said SWDs have become dumping grounds.

Instead of concretising them, the BBMP should clear them. They should retain the inter-connectivity between lakes, absence of which led to the recent flooding in the city. Percolation of water will not happen if drains are concretised. The lakes are always filled with sewage and that is why the Bellandur lake over flows even in summer.
DH News Service

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(Published 03 August 2016, 20:24 IST)

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