JOIN USThe BBMP has prepared a grand plan to save Bangaloreans from rain woes during monsoon by revamping storm water drains.
However, residents will have to wait for another five years to see it becoming a reality.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, BBMP Chief Engineer (storm water drains) H C Ananthaswamy said the master plan for revamping storm water drains in the City has been recently approved by Palike’s Technical Advisory Committee.
It will be sent to the State government after discussing at the BBMP Council. The idea behind the project is to make Bangalore flood-free. Scientific methods will be followed in deciding the width of the SWD, depth, silt accumulation and retaining wall.
Sources in the BBMP said the master plan involves revamping of SWD extending up to a length of 856 km across the City.
The cost of revamping the storm water drains in greater Bangalore is estimated at Rs 3,500 crore and the Palike plans to spend Rs 521 crore on revamping the drains in the core city, said a senior official.
Ananthaswamy added that it will take five years for the project to be completed and it is different from the SWD remodelling work already being implemented under JNNURM.
However, promises made by the authorities on making Bangalore flood-free are yet to be fulfilled. In 2010, the then Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa had assured Bangaloreans that encroachments on main SWDs would be removed.
In 2011, BBMP had claimed that it would come out with an action plan to find a permanent solution to flooding.
Over Rs 400 crore has already been spent on remodelling SWDs in Koramangala, Hebbala, Challaghatta and Mysore Road.