Task force to tackle floods

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who on Friday held a meeting with officials of  various department to review the rain damage, announced that  a permanent task force would be set up to tackle flooding in Bengaluru.

After the meeting, he said the task force  headed by additional chief secretary, urban development, would  do a systematic study and come out with solutuions to prevent flooding during rain. The committee,w hich  will have officials of the  BBMP, BWSSB, fire force and the police,  will constantly  monitor the situation in  areas  prone to flooding  and remove encroachments if any, accordig to him.

Revealing that Thursday's rain was the heaviest in  26 years in the city, he said while  Bengaluru received 127 mm rain in four hours in 1988, on Thursday it recorded 132 mm of rain.

Admitting that encroachment of storm water drains was causing the flooding,  he claimed that  illegal structures had been cleared in 63 spots so far. “Otherwise, the flooding would have been worse. We have floods in the city every year, but   this time, some new areas like Anepalya too were flooded, which is  worrying,”  he added.

With the loss  estimated to be Rs 60 to Rs 70 crore,  Rs 50 crore would be released immediately for repairs, he assured.

He directed Mayor  Shantkumari to concentrate on revenue mobilisation. “I will do a zone-wise review of revenue mobilisation in October and action wil be taken against officials, who lag behind the targets given,'' he warned.