Connecting lakes to prevent flooding in Bengaluru was among several measures Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced on Thursday, after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted more rain in the city in the next 24 hours.
The national meteorological body has issued a yellow alert for Bengaluru, predicting generally cloudy skies with moderate rain and occasional heavy rain, with the maximum and minimum temperatures likely to hover around 30°C and 20°C, respectively.
Shivakumar held a meeting with officials of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and said in a press conference that he gave instructions to them to avoid floods during rains in the city.
These measures include connecting ponds, prohibiting construction within 50 meters of storm water drains, construction of 300 km of roads along drains, inspection and demolition of dangerous and unauthorized buildings and more powers to officials through amendments or ordinances.
“We have taken several important decisions to prevent floods in Bengaluru and I have directed the officials to follow those steps carefully. We have formed a committee comprising Zonal Commissioners, Chief Engineers and officials of flood control to come up with solutions in areas prone to flooding. The committee has been directed to submit a report within a week. ,” he said.
CONNECTING THE LAKES
The Bengaluru Development Minister has directed officials to prepare a plan to connect lakes in the city to facilitate water flow during monsoons. This will help fill up the empty tanks and help recharge the groundwater in Bengaluru, he said. “I have told the officials to ensure that only rain water enters the ponds. We will get private land for this work, if necessary, by giving TDR to the land owners”, he added.
Officials have been given full powers to clear flood drains. I have also instructed them to fix the waste gates near the pond outlets to ensure proper flow of water. Also, various public authorities have been instructed to prepare the foundation plan.
NO BUILDING PLACE WITHIN 50 FEET RADIUS OF DRAINS
Construction will be restricted within 50 meters of all flood water pipes and the surrounding area has also been identified, which could improve roads up to 300 kilometers. This will stop the pipes from clogging and also ensure the location of the flood protection during heavy rain. Land owners who will share the land with each other will be compensated.
DEMOLITION OF UNAUTHORIZED BUILDINGS
DK Shivakumar said that many cases of unauthorized constructions have come to the notice of the BBMP and the government has directed the officials to demolish these structures. “I have told the officials to identify and demolish any unauthorized building that may cause damage to life and property,” he said.
“We have full power to take appropriate measures under the Disaster Management Act. We are also planning to bring amendments to give more power to the authorities involved. I have instructed the Secretary of Home Affairs to issue a law to stop unauthorized construction in the city. This will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet,” said the Deputy Minister.
SURVEY OF BUILDINGS UNDER CONSTRUCTION FROM MONDAY
Inspection of unconstructed buildings will be done from Monday by BBMP and private organizations. If any building is constructed without the required approval, it will be stopped. The inspection teams will take pictures and videos of the buildings and the whole process will be monitored by drones.
Bengaluru Rural and Ramanagara districts are also under BMRDA and BMTF, and have been directed to stop all unauthorized construction, he added.
OTHER ARRANGEMENTS FOR STREET VENDORS
When asked about the lack of progress in the relocation of street vendors that Shivakumar had promised in the past, he said that a different action plan is being prepared for it. It has been decided that street vendors will not be allowed on the streets. “I will provide details about this at another time. An investigation is underway to identify street vendors. We will take a decision after the investigation. There is also a mafia behind this. We are also studying various models in other cities”, said the Deputy Minister.
HEAVIER THAN NORMAL RAIN
DK Shivakumar toured the rain affected areas along with the BBMP officials and supervised the activities and all the officials worked overtime to solve the flood related problems. After his visit, the Minister said that the city has received the highest rainfall in the last 100-120 years. In many places, the rainfall is 200-300 percent higher and some parts received 157 mm of rain. Records show that Bengaluru had received 178 mm in 1997, 256 mm in 1999, he said.
Notably, days of heavy rain caused widespread waterlogging and disruption in Bengaluru. Various areas have been inundated, and major roads have experienced significant waterlogging, causing traffic jams and disruptions to public transport.
In response to severe weather conditions, schools may remain closed, while many IT and biotech firms have ordered their employees to work from home.
Tune in
Source link