Bommai blames Congress 'maladministration' for Bengaluru rain woes

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday blamed “unprecedented” rainfall and “maladministration” of the previous Congress government for the flood situation in Bengaluru.

“Karnataka, especially Bengaluru, has received unprecedented rains. It hasn't rained like this in 90 years,” Bommai said. “All the tanks are full and overflowing. Some have breached. There's continuous rain. Even today it's raining,” he said.

Targeting the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government, Bommai scoffed at “bad administration” of the city. “It is because of maladministration and the totally unplanned administration of the previous Congress government. They gave permissions left, right and centre on lakes, tank bunds and buffer zones. They didn’t maintain lakes,” Bommai said.

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The CM said he had given himself a challenge to tackle Bengaluru’s crumbling infrastructure. “Our officers, engineers, workers and SDRF teams are working 24/7. We’ve cleared lots of encroachments and will continue to do so,” Bommai said. “I've given Rs 1500 crore for stormwater drains. I've given another Rs 300 crore to remove encroachments and build pucca structures on rajakaluves so that, in future, there will be no impediment or bottlenecks in the flow of water,” he said.

“There's a picture that the entire Bengaluru is facing a problem,” Bommai said, clarifying that the problem is confined to two municipal zones. “Mahadevapura, especially, is under problem. It has 69 tanks and all of them are breached. Second, all establishments there are in low-lying areas. Third, there are encroachments,” he said.

Bommai said sluice gates will be constructed to manage water better. “I've instructed all my officers to be available 24/7 with a control room. Wherever there's an issue, they'll rush. We've started dewatering in most places. Only 1-2 places still have a problem. Otherwise, all areas have been dewatered,” he said.

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“The only issue is that rain isn't giving us an opportunity to work. We're working in such a challenging condition,” Bommai said.

On the water supply situation, Bommai requested citizens to cooperate for 2-3 days. “The TK Halli pumphouse in Mandya, which supplies water to Bengaluru, was flooded with the Bheemeshwar river. Of the two pump houses affected, one has been completely dewatered. By tonight or tomorrow, 330 MLD water supply will start. Dewatering is on to resume supply of another 550 MLD,” he said.

As many as 12,000 borewells - 8,000 under BWSSB and 4,000 under BBMP - will be restarted to supply water to citizens. “Where there’s no borewell, tankers will be pressed into service,” he said.