BBMP blunder caused flooding in ST Bed Layout, ministers admit

Negligence on the part of BBMP officials caused flooding in ST Bed Layout in Koramangala, southeast Bengaluru, following heavy rainfall on the morning of August 15, the state government admitted on Saturday.

Bengaluru Development Minister K J George, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy and Mayor G Padmavathi went around rain-affected localities on Saturday to assess the damage and interact with the affected residents. They all conceded that the civic body is responsible for the deluge.

BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad said: “A portion of the retention wall of the stormwater drain (SWD) was kept open as silt was being removed when it started to rain heavily around the midnight of August 14. The inundation and seepage of sewage water into homes could have been avoided had we taken proper measures.”

George promised to take "proper measures" to avoid recurrence of the problem. “I have instructed the engineer concerned to complete the work on the four SWDs in this area in 20 days,'' he said while announcing compensation for houses and valuables damaged in the deluge. But the quantum of compensation is yet to be determined.

At a review meeting after the inspection, George announced disciplinary action against the executive engineer concerned.

Speaking to the residents, Reddy, who is also the local MLA, said: "Even though people haven't asked for any compensation, we are giving it since it's our mistake." The Revenue Department will decide on the quantum of compensation, he added. 

The mayor apologised to the residents on behalf of the BBMP and promised that the problem would not recur.

George orders SWD engineers to speed up work

In order to prevent water-logging, Bengaluru Development Minister K J George has ordered all storm water drain (SWD) engineers to speed up ongoing works.

During the inspection of rain-affected areas on Saturday, George ordered engineers to take action against encroachers and widen the SWDs.

George instructed demolition of two shops encroaching on an SWD at Kumbaragondi on JC Road which had damaged both the drain and the road.

The retaining wall of the SWD near PWD quarters on KH Road had collapsed due to heavy rain. “A new wall has to be built to prevent overflow of storm water,” said George. After this, he instructed Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) engineers to clear the entire secondary drain near PWD quarters in Wilson Garden which had accumulated silt causing seepage of sewage water into homes.

“After the BBMP expanded its territory by adding more zones in 2007, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah allotted Rs 800 crore to build SWDs across the city. The entire length is about 842 km. We completed about 177 km of SWDs by the end of July. Work on the remaining stretch is in progress,” said George. The work is being completed in five phases.

George also inspected the ongoing SWD works at Arakere, Avani Shrigeri, Saraswathipuram, RR Layout, Srinivasa Reddy Layout in Bommanahalli, ST Bed Layout in Koramangala, Shantinagar, JC Road and Wilson Garden.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Mayor G Padmavathi, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad and senior engineers of BBMP and BWSSB accompanied George.