After the controversy around demolishing structures built on encroached storm-water drains (SWDs), the BBMP has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to reconstructing the drain network

Although monsoon is just a month away, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) seems to be under-prepared to handle rains. After several areas were inundated last monsoon owing to choked drains, the BBMP had demolished several structures and recovered nearly 22 km of SWDs.

However, the civic agency has just completed concretising 1.8 km of the drain network. Worse, BBMP has not maintained records of the extent of drains recovered in the first phase of encroachment removal from January to July 2016.

The BBMP had identified 1,953 encroachments of which 1,225 were removed in three phases starting January 2016. A 22-km stretch, spreading across 11 acres and 21 guntas, was recovered in the second and third phase of the drive, said BBMP officials. “A 1.8 km stretch of RCC drain in Bommanahalli has been reconstructed,” said BBMP chief engineer (SWD) Siddegowda. “Work is in progress in Dasarahalli, Kasavanahalli, Byatarayanapura, and Yelahanka, and is expected to be completed in three-and-a-half months,” he added.

He said work was held up due to a delay in sanctioning of funds. “Now that funds have been sanctioned and work orders given, we are hoping to finish the cementing of drains by the end of the year,” he added.

However, the date of completion of the project is April 2018. “Work on vulnerable parts of the drain network will be completed in two months,” Mr. Siddegowda said. In Kodichikkanahalli, which faced the brunt of flooding last year, the drain has been left open near the opening to the lake. As a result, waste is being dumped into the drain, which ends up in the lake. “The place has become a littering spot, and there is a lot of stench and mosquitoes,” said Meena Balu, a resident.

Another complaint is the slow pace of work.

“Work on a SWD next to a mall in Malleswaram has been going on for several months now. Every once in a while, work is re-started and the drain is left open only to be closed a few days later,” said a resident of Malleswaram.