Finish repairing storm water drains work soon: Mayor

To avoid flood-like situation after rain in the city, Mayor R Sampath Raj directed the BBMP officials to complete the stormwater drain (SWD) work soon.

Speaking at the council meeting, the mayor said: “There is a rain forecast in the city. Since Kodagu and Kerala were flooded after the rain, to avoid such a situation in the city, we should take preventive measures .”

The corporators requested the mayor to direct the officials concerned to take measures to avoid tree fall related accidents.

Many trees and branches across the city that have dried up could pose a threat in the coming days, complained K Narasimha Nayak, Bagalakunte ward corporator.

“In order to clear fallen trees, teams must be constituted in each Assembly constituency. This team should be used in the emergency situation,” said the mayor.

Chola Raju, deputy conservator of forest in the BBMP, said: “We are getting complaints from different parts of the city. We have taken up the branches trimming work in all the zones. From April to July 574 trees that had dried up have been cut down after getting complaints. These could have collapsed due to heavy rain and winds.”

“1,409 branches, which have dried up, have been trimmed. The trees that cannot be chopped are being trimmed at many places. Various departments of the civic body are coordinating in the issue,” he added.

BBMP forest department is having only 21 teams to clear the fallen trees.

Chola Raju requested the mayor and BBMP commissioner, 28 teams, to attend the emergency problems.

Title deed

Slum dwellers living in illegal houses can obtain title deed from the BBMP. However, the state cabinet decision has come in the way, said N Manjunath Prasad, BBMP commissioner.

“Revenue department has to hand over all those illegal properties until January 2010 to the BBMP without taking any fee. The government had ordered the BBMP to issue the title deeds. However, this order was cancelled in 2011. The cabinet had decided to stop giving title deeds in the slums. Instead of this, the government ordered to build high-rises,” he said.

K Gopalaiah, MLA of Mahalaxmi Layout, said: “The government has distributed the title deeds to many families living in slums. Some have already sold it. However, khata has not been registered. Those living in the area have built the building. But they are not getting A-khata.”