Bengaluru has 209 spots vulnerable to flooding; east zone tops list

BENGALURU: It takes a short spell of rain to expose the gaps in BBMP’s monsoon preparedness. This time too, monsoon showers resulted in waterlogging, low-lying areas getting inundated, and road surfaces deteriorating.
The civic body’s monsoon readiness was reviewed at a meeting conducted by revenue minister R Ashoka late Monday evening. During the meeting, it was disclosed that the civic body has identified 209 vulnerable spots across the city. While 58 of them have been categorised as sensitive, 151 have been termed moderately sensitive.

Focus on drains
Civic officials said that they are overseeing work to ensure waterlogging caused by clogged drains is addressed and stormwater drains are cleaned.
The minister instructed the officials to look into shoulder drains alongside roads to ensure there is no waterlogging on roads.
According to BBMP officials, east zone has the highest number of vulnerable spots (38), followed by Dasarahalli (37) and Rajarajeshwari Nagar (32).
BBMP ward officers have been asked to check ward-level roads and clogging of shoulder drains, and take necessary steps. “The shoulder and side drains also have to be cleaned to control waterlogging on streets,” BBMP chief Gaurav Gupta told TOI.
Monsoon duty
At the meeting, it was emphasised that the task force teams and officers will have to work round the clock during the rainy season to ensure the city isn’t flooded. All officers at the headquarters and at the constituency level will have to ensure proper information reaches Bengalureans.
The officers were also instructed to identify and cut unstable trees so that they don’t cause harm to the public during heavy rains.
“A team will be constituted to address the problem of waterlogging on roads during the rainy season. When such things happen, heavy-duty pumps should be used to clear the waterlogged areas. Along with that teams will also look at what needs to be done to prevent tree falls during the rainy season,” Gupta added.