BENGALURU: It is totally unfortunate that boats had to be employed to ferry people in city like Bengaluru, lamented K. B. Koliwad, chairman of legislature committee on encroachment of lake beds.
During the inspection, he first paid visit to most affected Deo layout and Anugraha layout in Kodichikkanahalli he took stock of the situation and directed the forest deapartment to cooperate with the BBMP to desilt the drains and lower the bunds of the Madiwala lake and to establish connectivity.
He also said that, if need be trees be cut to provide outlet to the water to other lakes and nalas, he said. The chief minister has released an addition of Rs 140 crore as flood relief measures. The funds can be used constructively to arrest floodings in future, he added.
Earlier, Bommanahalli MLA Satish Reddy and Transport minister Ramalinga Reddy apprised Mr Koliwad of the situation and said water from upper stream lakes like Akshaynagar and Hulimavu flow into the Madiwala lake. However, it flows from the drain that has run through the two layouts.
Hearing the pleas of residents Mr Koliwad assured both the long and short term measure to combat floods. The short term measures will be that both forest and BBMP will work in tandem and ensure that the storm water runs off smoothly without affecting the residents further.
As long term measure the BBMP will connect the missing link of the drains by convincing the residents and court about the importance of the project. Providing concrete drain avoids blocks and repeated desilting of the drains, he said and set a deadline of 45 days to the BBMP to complete the works.
Simultaneously the BWSSB will construct the pumping station and Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) to treat the water and let it into the lake. The work should be completed by December, he directed.
Meanwhile, Transport minister R. Ramalinga Reddy assured that bio-diversity park, along with sewage treatment plant, worth Rs 24.5 crore. Assuring the complete support from the government he directed officials to complete the work by December end.
