BBMP’s plan to clear encroachments and de-silt Storm Water Drains (SWDs) and install Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) in big properties, will launch soon, say officials. The Commissioner’s action plan, intended to combat flooding during monsoon, is supposed to get completed within 2-3 months.
The works are de-centralised – EEs in each zone are responsible for doing this in areas under their jurisdiction. Officials should submit a daily action plan to the Commissioner and update him of each day’s work, says documents from the Commissioner’s office. If accidents continue during monsoon despite these actions, the concerned officials will be held responsible, says the document. BBMP’s Action Plan includes:
Encroachment Removal
Person incharge: M L Munikrishna, Chief Engineer, SWD
Deadline: June 30
According to Munikrishna, there are 254 encroachments in the city, 50 of which have court cases attached to them. "These data is per a survey we having been conducting over the last 8-9 months. There were 500 other encroachments which have already been cleared. It will be difficult to remove stays, but we are confident of removing the other encroachments within deadline," he says.
Survey is still going on to identify properties about which there is confusion regarding ownership; it will be complete in by end of next week, says Munikrishna. He also works with BBMP’s legal department to identify methods for clearing stay orders on encroachments.
The actual clearing of encroachments and stay orders will be done by Executive Engineers (EEs) in each zone and EEs in SWD department. Joint Commissioners (JCs) of the respective zones will monitor the work. BMTF (Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force) and the police will assist BBMP in encroachment removal.
"We are still in the planning stage. We will start encroachment removal from next Monday (May 16th)," Munikrishna says.
De-silting of SWDs
Person incharge: JCs of zones are in charge of their respective zones. TVC will monitor zonal officers’ work.
Deadline: June 30
A major section of the storm water drain on Outer Ring Road, near Silk Board in BTM has remained dry for years. Pic: Yogaraj S Mudalgi
JCs and CEs of each zone should identify the primary and secondary drains to be de-silted. They will work with the SWD department for this. Zonal offices have already invited tenders, but they have not been finalised yet. Contractors are supposed to be start work on May 20th and finish it by June 30.
Silt removed should be deposited in dump yards within 48 hours, according to guidelines. Shivabasavaiah, JC (Bommanahalli zone), says that silt will be deposited in BBMP’s existing garbage dumps. "Garbage dumps need to be covered with mud sometimes, hence the decision to deposit silt there; it has been going on," he says.
Shivabasavaiah is confident of completing the works by June itself. "Zonal surveyors are working with the SWD department to collect data. On getting their report, we will make an action plan and finish the works before monsoon," he says.
Vehicles under contract which dump garbage illegally will be confiscated and fined Rs 25,000. Driver’s license will also be confiscated and criminal cases will be filed against the contractor, says the document. As per the decision of the BBMP Council last month, anyone who informs BBMP about such vehicles will be rewarded with Rs 10,000. Zonal EEs will collect photo and video evidence of contractors collecting and dumping silt.
The work done by zonal EEs will be monitored by BBMP’s TVC (Technical Vigilance Cell). Devaraj, Chief Engineer of TVC, says, "We will only monitor if the EEs have executed the tenders and monitoring it properly. We do not check the contractors’ work directly."
RWH
Person incharge: Raja Simha, Technical Advisor to the Commissioner
Deadline: July end
All three valleys – Koramangala-Challaghatta, Vrishabhavathi and Hebbal valleys – and their boundaries will be mapped and buildings which have to install RWH in these areas will be identified. Any building – private or government – located in a property measuring one acre or more, should install RWH, irrespective of when the building was completed. Deadline for this is three months, but it is difficult to meet, says Raja Simha.
Bangalore is at a high altitude (912 metres above sea-level) and has three valleys – Koramangala-Challaghatta, Vrishabhavathi and Hebbal valley.
Hebbal valley in which river Arkavati flows and terminates before reaching any sea. Vrishabhavathi valley drains in to river Cauvery and Koramangala-Challaghatta drains into Dakshina Pinakini. SWD networks collect the rain water in these valleys to feed the lakes.
Space around the tree dug up for water collection. File Pic: Meera K
BBMP will install RWH in all its parks, offices, burial grounds etc. Zonal JCs should ensure that all private owners install RWH in their properties. Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology (KSCST), which is a part of IISc, will provide consultation for the project.
BWSSB and Town Planning department will also be part of the project; the team is only being formed now. "Mapping of properties have been done and we have determined how much water can be saved. Private owners who do not install RWH will be penalised, but we have not yet decided on the penalty," Raja Simha says.
BBMP also plans to have percolation pits around trees. According to the document, there are 20 lakh trees in the city, each of which can collect 50-100 litres of water during rain, if percolation pits are built around them. But this has not been initiated yet.⊕
Dear BBMP Chief,
Life on Foot Path is a road to hell on the most happening street namely CMH road B,lore-38. Every day officials pass by on these roads and footpath’s have been damaged by Metro rail cranes doing work anchoring on footpaths . Its 4 months now and no sign of any repairs to close the open drains especially next to Bombay Dyeing, and opposite to Oak&Oak .
Today CMH roads have been moved from D Zones to C zones and people are paying higher BBMP Tax. Please help the senior citizen’s who find life Hell on roads.