B’luru’s collapsing infra: Tough decisions needed

Bengaluru’s collapsing infrastructure: Tough decisions needed Bengaluru, the IT City home to several global majors, is fast becoming a nightmare not only for citizens but also for urban planners. On Tuesday, an under-construction sevenstorey building in the city collapsed, likely due to the impact of the heavy rains over the past week. There have been at least three fatalities, many people are seriously injured, and several others remain trapped as rescue efforts continue to prevent further loss of life. While it is still too early to determine the exact cause of the collapse, it is obvious to most Bengalureans that few cities in the country have such lax building laws.

Multi-storey buildings are constructed on tiny plots of land, creating architectural ‘monstrosities’ that endanger the lives of those who live in them. A few bribes are all it takes to get building plans approved, regardless of how many civic law violations are involved. With no elected civic body in place for the past four years, it’s no wonder that Bengaluru has become a bureaucrat’s paradise when it comes to sanctioning building plans. Many get away with their violations by pulling strings in high places, so that when trouble arises, all one needs to do is flaunt the names of top-ranking politicians to make civic officials turn a blind eye. No one cares about the sacred Green Zone or lake beds as long as a rain-induced flood doesn’t occur in the area. Then, there’s a lot of soulsearching over why buildings were allowed to be constructed in such restricted zones. A few officials may be suspended, and even demolitions might take place, but all is soon forgotten as the same old story repeats elsewhere in the city.

This lackadaisical approach to planning a liveable city is also why we are seeing so much flooding after a few days of rain. Massive structures have been built in low-lying areas and near rajakaluves (stormwater drains), with no protective measures to ensure they do not block the flow of rainwater. As for the roads, the less said the better. After a warning by the minister in charge of Bengaluru’s development, threatening to suspend officials who leave gaping potholes unattended, a rushed effort was made to fill them over a stretch of two weeks. The results are clear for all to see: Almost all the potholes have reopened due to the continuous rain, many becoming even deeper, turning a drive through the city into a dangerous ordeal. On Monday, horrifying news emerged that a woman had died after being hit by a mini-truck while her husband tried to navigate around a pothole in the Sarjapur area.

It’s clear that rainwater management in a city that experiences two monsoons has hardly been a priority for politicians and bureaucrats. On Tuesday, rain-weary residents were met with the sight of BBMP officials hastily cleaning drains across the city after the damage had already been done, and the city was flooded to the brim! Dear ministers, MLAs and officials, Bengalureans have had enough of these kneejerk reactions to civic problems. Living and working in a global city that is constantly under the spotlight, citizens cannot be blamed for demanding better living conditions. If drains aren’t cleared in time, potholes aren’t filled properly, power lines aren’t maintained, and trees aren’t trimmed, the city is bound to suffer whenever a deluge hits.

There are stern and no-nonsense politicians and officials who have made a difference, ensuring that those who flout the rules are held accountable. In a city like Bengaluru, where lawlessness is the norm and violations the rule, it’s time for some tough decisions to prevent more lives being lost to faulty buildings and craterfilled roads.