Bengaluru: Diwali celebration were dampened by rains, traffic snarls and uncleared garbage on Wednesday. Traffic jams were reported in almost every part of city, as authorities struggled to clear water logging caused in many areas due to continuous rains in the city for the past three days.
BBMP and BWSSB were struggling to cope with these challenges as a number of employees had gone on leave on account of Diwali. Every year the city faces the problem of increase in garbage during festivals, but this time it got aggravated due to continuous rains and hence in many places garbage remained uncleared.
Majestic, K.R. Market and surrounding areas were the worst hit on Wednesday, when thousands of shop owners gathered along with their family members to perform the festival rituals. Women and children had no choice but to walk on slushy roads amid uncleared garbage and blocked storm water drains.
In Indirangar an old tree fell on the road on Tuesday, but was not cleared even till Wednesday. The short staffed BBMP was finding it difficult to deal with many such incidents that were reported and in many cases people themselves tried to clear the fallen trees.
‘Check trees regularly’
Ecologists point out that the civic authorities should conduct regular checks on trees that are susceptible to fall during strong winds. They point out that incidents of tree fall are reported in the city during the month of April and May during pre-monsoon showers, often accompanied by strong winds.
“It is important that the BBMP must take up regular checks on the trees which are old and decaying. Such trees can either be supported with some poles and ropes or they could be removed. In the last few years there have been no planting of trees on the road sides inside city and also in the places where the trees have fallen. Hence it also becomes important that the trees that are planted suits the local environment. You will hardly see native trees like neem or tamarind falling during the heavy rains, but the exotic trees such as gulmohar and rain trees are the first ones to sustain damage during the winds,” explained an urban ecologist.
Rainy spell to ease: Met Dept
The Met department has forecast that rainfall over Bengaluru is expected to reduce over the next two days. The deep depression prevailing over coastal Tamil Nadu has now moved away. On Wednesday the city recorded 2.6 mm rains and the HAL and KIA airports recorded 1.7 mm and 3.6 mm respectively.
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