Bengaluru: Officials concerned have been asked not to bow under pressure from persons however influential they may be in dealing with encroachment cases, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah while asking officials to initiate action to clear encroachments on storm water drains of the city.
Addressing a press conference after inspecting rain-hit areas in Bengaluru city on Wednesday, Siddaramaiah said as many as 173 km of storm water drain needs to be developed in Bengaluru city out of 860-km. A loan of Rs 2,000 crore has been availed to take-uo works on remaining portion of storm water drains and the works would be completed in 3 years.
As of now, he said, lining works on 491-km of storm water drain has been completed while another 125-works are in progress across the city and the works on the storm water drains would offer solutions to the flooding of localities in Bengaluru city whenever the city receives rainfall in excess.
He said he directed officials concerned to clear encroachment of storm water drain near Manyata Techpark and Chief Executive Officer of Manyata Techpark assured to construct a drain in the vicinity in about 90-days and when completed rainwater will flow smoothly.
Regarding flooding of Sai Layout, Siddaramaiah said a vent near a railway bridge is narrow and steps have to be initiated to widen the vent to prevent flooding of the Layout. A sum of Rs 13 crore will be released to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike to initiate steps to widen the narrow vent.
Over flooding at Silk Board Metro Station, the Chief Minister said water flows to the Metro Station for four directions and from there water enters HSR Layout. The flooding at Silk Board Metro Station has to be addressed through discussions with Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited officials, BBMP and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
He said, a plan has to be evolved by all three agencies to address flooding at Silk Board Metro Station.
