'Task-force' meet to discuss challenges in monsoon season in B'luru

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Karnataka Minister for Housing and Infrastructure V Somanna chaired a meeting at Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike’s Head Office on Wednesday to discuss precautionary measures to be taken for the monsoon season. 

BBMP came out with several measures to tackle the fury of the rains. However, the minister avoided critical questions over lapses in executing projects and maintaining stormwater drains.

Minister V Somannna noted that Bengaluru was not a city that was planned, but a city that has grown haphazardly.

“Special attention would be given to low-lying areas, bottlenecks and stretches where multiple drains converge. We will make sure that railway officials will also attend such meetings to resolve issues related to railway underpasses and overbridges,” he said.

The ‘task-force meeting’ was also attended by Mahalakshmi Layout MLA K Gopalaiah, Bengaluru South MP Tejaswi Surya, Gandhinagar MLA Dinesh Gundu Rao and MLC Puttanna.

BBMP officials present included Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath, Commissioner and Joint Commissioner for the west zone and other officials.

Minister Somanna said that BBMP would be coordinating with the National Disaster Response Force, Civil Defence and Home Guards as and when the need arises.

The Zonal Commissioners will now have to submit a fortnightly report to the Chief Commissioner.

“It has been decided that the Zonal Commissioner can sanction funds up to Rs 1 crore for emergency works. Henceforth, we will act against erring officials by initiating a confidential report against them,” Somanna said.

The Minister responded to questions regarding encroachments on Rajakaluves, delay in building retaining walls, delay in desilting and failure to clear encroachments by saying that the lapses were not from his term.

However, he claimed that the work that is going to be carried out in the following six months "will benefit the people of the city for at least a decade."