Illegal constructions on drains to be razed

He was speaking to reporters after attending a meeting convened by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa with the BJP MLAs, MLCs and MPs and the heads of civic agencies to discuss the development of Bangalore at his home office ‘Krishna’.

There are hundreds of illegal buildings encroaching upon four major drains, leading to floods in low-lying areas during rains. “So, the BBMP has been directed to demolish them all on a war footing in coordination with the police,” he said.

According to an estimate, there are nearly one lakh unauthorised structures, including residential and commercial complexes, on the drains in the City.

The chief minister has directed the BBMP to implement the storm water drain remodelling project. The BBMP has been asked to fix three shifts for the contractors to implement the project and ensure that it is completed at the earliest.

Monsoon task force

To deal with the problems that emerge during monsoon, the chief minister has set up a task force headed by two ministers in charge of Bangalore—Ashok and Katta Subramanya Naidu. The commissioners of the BBMP and the BDA, the BWSSB chairman, managing directors of the BMRDA and the BMRCL and the urban development department principal secretary are members of the task force.

The task force has been directed to submit a “monsoon management plan” within one week to the chief minister. It will look into storm water drains, desilting of drains, retaining walls of drains, identifying the vulnerable points of flooding and traffic problems during rains. It would recommend to the chief minister the steps to be taken to deal with the problems, Ananth Kumar, MP, said.

He added the task force would also coordinate with all civic agencies in providing relief and rehabilitation to the people affected by rains.

The meeting also decided to launch phase II of Nemmadi Narayana to issue ownership rights to slum dwellers. Another 10,000 slum dwellers would be given the rights, Ashok said.

The chief minister, sources said, had asked the party MLAs, MLCs and MPs to give priority to implementing developmental projects ahead of the BBMP elections.

He also assured to convene another meeting shortly to discuss law and order.