From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Nov 24: Taking the unusual step of holding a meeting to review the situation in different parts of the city, especially in the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Manyata Tech Park and other areas around Yelahanka and Devanahalli and other low lying spots, at the headquarters of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike on Wednesday, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has directed BBMP officials to complete the 30-kms stretch of Rajakaluve work by the end of January.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the Chief Minister said the State Government has taken serious note of the flooding and inundation of several low lying areas damaging houses and will be taking steps to ensure that all the storm water drains and sewerage lines were cleared to ensure that the Rajakaluves were in a position to handle the flow of more water in the situations of heavy downpour.
The retaining walls of the Rajakaluves will be concretised and all water canals built with mud in the outer zones of the city will also be concretised, he said mentioning that Reinforced Cement Concrete canals will be built in the 110 villages in the outer zone and they will be widened so that rain water and drainage water can flow unhindered, he said.
The Chief Minister pointed out that there are four valleys across the city at Vrishabhavaghi, Hebbal, Challaghatta and Koramangala with a total of 842 Rajakaluves. Works on rebuilding the walls in respect of 415 kms length have already been completed and approval for taking up another 75 kms of walls has been given in 2019-20. Out of the 75 kms, works in respect of 40 kms have been completed. However, these works have encountered some serious bottlenecks in 94 places and officials have been asked to complete these works in the next two months, he said.
There are serious bottlenecks in Challaghatta and Vrishabhavathy valleys and another 51 kms of big storm water drains needs to be completed. Pending works in respect of 38 kms for taking secondary drainage works needs to be taken up.
“I have asked the BBMP Chief Commissioner to prepare detailed project reports for Rs 900 crore for executing primary and secondary drainage works. Special grants will be provided to ensure that the works are completed in a time-bound manner,’’ he said assuring that the public will not be inconvenienced by delays.
Bommai said underground drainage lines need to be completed in many of the layouts in the city and steps will be taken to ensure that water-logging and flooding problems do not recur in future during heavy rains and downpours.
As many as 2626 encroachments along the rajakaluves have been identified. Out of these, 1480 encroachments have been cleared and legal steps will be taken for clearing the remaining 714 encroachments. Care will be taken to ensure that poorer sections of the people were not disturbed as far as possible and they will be given extra time for shifting if necessary. However, strict instructions have been given to clear encroachments by big builders, he said.
The Chief Minister has also directed the BBMP officials to fill up all potholes and priority will be given to repairing and filling up bigger potholes. If road stretches are damaged for half a km or more, those roads will be asphalted soon after rains stop, he said.
Higher Education Minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan, ministers S T Somashekar, K Gopalaiah, Munirathna, V Somanna and B A Basavaraj and BBMP Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta, Administrator Rakesh Singh, Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary N Manjunath Prasad and other officials attended the meeting.