Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar proposes three drains to end flooding in Nagawara

Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday pledged to chalk out a permanent solution to ensure the smooth flow of water in Nagawara, where a 33-foot-wide rajakaluve narrows down to just six feet, creating flood-like conditions whenever it rains.

Instead of demolishing "tall" buildings in the area, the Bangalore Development Minister proposed diverting water through the construction of three stormwater drains in different directions.

He issued these instructions while inspecting the rajakaluve at Nagawara, an area that includes major tech parks such as Embassy Group’s Manyata Tech Park, Karle Infra Tech, and companies like Manpho Convention Centre and Capital Land among others.

“No one is more important than the public interest. We want to ensure the water flows freely. Over one lakh people work here. We don’t want to harm your reputation. The government is prepared to offer compensation if alternate drains need to be constructed,” DK Shivakumar told representatives from various companies.

Nagawara was among the five worst-affected areas during the recent heavy rains in Bengaluru, just ten days ago. The rajakaluve that leads to Nagawara Lake narrows down near the Special Economic Zone (SEZ), a result of land use changes over the years.

Officials informed the Deputy CM that according to revenue records from 1885, the rajakaluve passed through the properties, but the 1958 survey records made no mention of it. They also noted that a short missing stretch of the rajakaluve is a key contributor to flooding in the area.

As a solution, they proposed the Embassy Group’s plan to construct a stormwater drain within the Manyata Tech Park premises, a second drain through private land belonging to Ramanjaneya, and a third one passing through Karle Tech Park and the Manpho Convention Centre.

Convinced by the proposal, DK Shivakumar authorized Tushar Girinath, Additional Chief Secretary of the Urban Development Department, and also BBMP’s Chief Commissioner, to formulate an immediate action plan. A meeting has been scheduled for Friday to finalize the solution.

Speaking to reporters, DK Shivakumar said the government is ready to remove encroachments under the Disaster Management Act, if necessary. “We cannot allow Bengaluru’s reputation to go down the drain. Regardless of mapping discrepancies, rainwater must be allowed to flow,” he asserted.