Lot spent on cure as BBMP ignores prevention

Residents of floodprone HBR Layout and surrounding areas will have to make do with temporary solutions this year too, according to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike officials. The storm-water drain flooding the locality needs a wider vent as it passes under a railway bridge at Geddalahalli. BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath said on Wednesday[1]day that the work order for the widening and other modifications has been released, but the work will be completed only by next monsoon. Close to 500 houses were flooded on Tuesday in the eastern and north-eastern parts of the city, according to BBMP officials. The residents of Sai Layout near Horamavu had to be paid compensation for the fourth time this year due to flooding. The chief commissioner admitted that the BBMP’s standard compensation amount is Rs 10,000, while arriving at a permanent solution would be more feasible than paying compensations repeatedly. He said that Sai Layout, Pai Layout, Nagappa Reddy Layout and HRBR Layout areas were the most affected following Tuesday’s downpour and added that the BBMP has been pumping out floodwater from inundated spots at different locations. The down pouron Tuesday night led to waterlogging of several roads, affecting vehicular movement. Roads in areas including CV Raman Nagar, Koramangala, Old Airport Road, Ramamurthy Nagar and Manyata Tech Park were inundated. Rainwater had receded in most parts but continued to slow traffic in some junctions including the Hebbal Flyover. Water from the previous night’s shower failed to recede completely on the service road running next to Hebbal Lake. Commuters travelling towards Airport Road from the Outer Ring Road were affected by the severe waterlogging here. The railway underpass between Lottegollahalli and Bhadrappa Layout was covered with sludge as a footpath here is being rebuilt. Debris and soil from the footpaths got washed onto the road by the heavy rain.