Last-minute monsoon prep: BBMP to procure boats, pumps, flood-relief gear

Bengaluru: Realising that its infrastructure remains ill-equipped to handle heavy rainfall, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has made a last-minute push to brace for the impact of the rainy season.

The civic body now plans to procure flood-relief equipment such as inflatable boats, life jackets, centrifugal pumps, and other emergency gear in anticipation of potential flooding.

The decision follows severe flooding in areas such as Sai Layout, ST Bed, and HBR Layout, and signals the BBMP’s acknowledgment that this year’s monsoon could be as challenging — if not worse.

Under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF), a grant provided to states through the 15th Finance Commission, the BBMP has earmarked around Rs 65 lakh to purchase nine categories of flood-response equipment. This includes four inflatable boats fitted with outboard motors (each with a capacity of 12 passengers), 48 life jackets, 16 centrifugal pumps to drain stagnant water, chainsaws to clear fallen trees, bolt cutters, ropes, and handheld torches.

This marks the first time the BBMP is independently acquiring such flood-management gear. Until now, it has relied on the State and National Disaster Response Forces (SDRF/NDRF) and civil defence personnel from the Fire Department to carry out rescue and relief operations in flood-hit areas.

While the BBMP will continue seeking assistance from other departments, officials said having additional equipment will prove useful during emergencies. "We had to deploy earthmovers to deliver food and use tractors to evacuate residents in areas like Sai Layout,” a senior BBMP official said.

However, the move has drawn criticism, with some calling it a reactive approach that ignores the root causes of flooding.

RTI activist BH Veeresh argued that the BBMP had ample time to address core issues such as desilting rajakaluves (stormwater drains), removing encroachments, and promoting rainwater harvesting.

“Instead of tackling these fundamental problems, the BBMP is preparing only for damage control,” he said.

Veeresh also pointed to alleged irregularities in the Storm Water Drain (SWD) division, which he claims remain uninvestigated.