Rain check! Is BBMP monsoon ready?

BENGALURU: Learning its lessons from last year’s flooding in the city in monsoon, the BBMP seems to be better prepared this year and has set up 65 control rooms headed by joint commissioners to attend to emergencies.

But with the southwest monsoon set to hit the city as early as next week, the Palike is yet to complete the construction work on storm water drains. Of the 842 km of work it was expected to complete, only 307 km has been done. BBMP officials told Deccan Chronicle that by July, they would construct another 92.67 km of the drain, the work on which started in 2006-07.

Not just the slow pace of work, even funds is a problem for the Palike. Chief Engineer (SWD) Bette Gowda said that the civic agency has utilised all the money received from the government and the work will resume only after more funds are allocated.

“Desilting of SWDs is in progress, but it is a recurring process as mud keeps entering the drain during the rain. We have completed 145 km of desilting work. Our control rooms are ready with equipment like tree cutters to attend to any emergencies,” he said.

The control rooms also have dewatering pumps, earthmovers and enough emergency work force.

The civic agency had identified 366 vulnerable storm water drains to carry out fencing, remodelling and desilting, while works on 339 SWDs has been completed.

Rajashekar D.S., urban expert and president of the Citizens for Action Forum, said, “The BBMP should monitor the works executed by contractors. For example, potholes are back in the city, though road works were completed just a few months ago. There is a separate cell in the BBMP to monitor the works and it should check the quality while the work is in progress.”

He said that the BBMP should also plan in advance. “The storm water drain desilting works could have been carried out in summer, but it is being done now. Once the monsoon sets in, it is a waste of resources.”