BENGALURU: It does not take much rainfall for the streets in Bengaluru to start flooding. Following major incidents of flooding last year, the civic authorities identified 1,923 encroachments on stormwater drains, of which 1,250 have been cleared so far.
BMMP still has a long way to go when it comes to clearing encroachments on SWDs, but it claims that all precautionary measures have been put in place and adds that the residents have no reason to worry about floods this year.
The BBMP has built RCC walls along SWDs in many flood-prone areas in the city. These are cement walls constructed along the SWDs. Besides uplifting the aesthetics of the place, such walls also reduce silting of the drains.
BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad told Express, “Last year, we identified and mapped 220 areas that have a perennial issue of flooding. Both precautionary and corrective measures have been initiated. RCC stormwater drains are being made in 60 areas and the works will be completed by May. We will take up the same work in 60 other areas. From Kino underpass to Mantri Mall, we have installed 900m of pipeline to push the flood water out. Earlier, we had to pump the water out using machines. In Nayandahalli Junction (BDA had handed over the junction to BBMP), we are taking all the necessary steps to see that there are no floods. The same is being done on Hosur Road.”
Siddegowda, chief engineer, stormwater drains, said, “The existing 155.1km walls of SWDs are being replaced by RCC walls and will be fenced. There won’t be any flooding this year if this work gets done. So far, 69.14m of drains has been cleared of encroachments and 85.96km more is yet to be cleared. This will take two months.” He said details on building demolition will be available after 10 days
The total length of the SWDs in the city is 842km. After the floods last year, the Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) authorities suggested the civic agency to remodel the drains, including widening or deepening of the drains and creating slopes. Shubha Avinash, project scientist, hydrology section, KSNDMC, said, “Of the 174 flood-prone areas, East zone has the maximum with 48.”