Drains will be monsoon-ready by June 15, BBMP tells HC

The construction, remodelling and desilting of stormwater drains in the city will be completed by June 15, the Palike told the High Court of Karnataka on Monday.

In a status report on the development of drains, the civic body claimed that despite the heavy rainfall in the past four weeks, the water flow in the SWDs had been smooth and there was no flooding. Setting itself the June 15 deadline, the BBMP also promised to carry out a periodic maintenance of SWDs so that they do not get blocked or flooded during the monsoon. It also vowed to remain alert during the upcoming rainy season to avert flooding in the city.

The action plan

In order to achieve the aforementioned targets, the BBMP has set up 63 control rooms headed by the joint commissioners of the respective zones. All the control rooms will have helplines, which will be published on the BBMP website and in all Kannada and English newspapers by June 1. Every control room will work round the clock and will be equipped with emergency vehicles, 10 labourers, tree-cutting machines, dewatering pumps, on-call earthmovers and other equipment required for clearing obstructions, removing uprooted trees and averting flooding.

The report also stated that the maintenance, remodelling, construction and desilting of SWDs and removal of encroachments was an ongoing process. The BBMP and the BWSSB have to work in tandem to maintain the sewers. The BBMP is making all efforts to carry out the work as diligently as possible.

The court asked the BBMP to submit a status report at the next hearing and adjourned the matter until June 11.

BBMP's plan to avert flooding 63 control rooms that will work round the clock Control rooms equipped with helplines Each control room will have 10 labourers, tree-cutting machines, dewatering pumps, on-call earthmovers and other equipment required for clearing obstructions