BENGALURU: A joint survey of storm water drains by the BBMP and the urban administration has revealed that a massive 118 acres of drain have been encroached upon in the newly added areas across the city, causing flooding during rainy season.
Though a couple of children have been washed away in storm water drains the BBMP does not seem to have learnt its lessons. Recently, nearly 100 houses were inundated at Anepalya near Ejipura.
Despite these incidents, the BBMP has not taken up a drive to clear encroachments over storm water drains, said Mr N. Mukund of the Citizens’ Action Forum (CAF).
Though encroaching storm water drains is a criminal offence and the city gets flooded every time it rains, the authorities have turned a blind eye to the problem and unscrupulous elements continue to encroach, he said.
Apart from flooding the areas, encroachments also create pools of stagnant water, which become breeding grounds for mosquitoes that spread dengue and malaria. The survey has been conducted only in the newly added areas and even core areas should be surveyed as flooding is occurring even in these areas, Mr Mukund said.
Following the directions of the high court and the Chief Minister, the BBMP should take the support of police and Bengaluru Metropolitan Task Force and clear the encroachments, he said.
Encroachments have been recorded in 971 locations, and Yelahanka and surrounding areas top the list of with nearly 100 acres of drain encroached.
But encroachments have been cleared only in nine locations. 12.27 acres of drain has been encroached in Mahadevapura zone, 3.13 acres in Dasarahalli zone and 1.26 acres in Rajarajeshwarinagar zone.
BBMP Commissioner M. Lakshminarayan said that based on the survey report the palike is drawing up an action plan and taking up the demolition drive every week. But the drive needs to be intensified, he added.
