Kempegowda Layout turns into lake post rain in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout (NPKL) has turned into a lake of sorts, following heavy rain in the city over the past few days.
The layout, developed by Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), has been lacking basic amenities for almost six years now, because of which site allottees are yet to take up construction of houses.
Incomplete drainage network in the layout is behind the flooding issue. Most of the main roads and plots are under water.
"Out of 29km of stormwater drains, BDA has not constructed 4-5km. This has resulted in water flowing in reverse, back into the layout. The newly built STP at the layout also is submerged. This only shows that the SWD network is just not enough to withstand rain," said Surya Kiran AS, joint secretary of NPKL Open Forum.
Srinivasa Rao, a site allottee, said: "I thank the government. Instead of giving sites, the BDA has developed a beautiful pond."
BDA commissioner Rajesh Gowda said work orders have been issued for all the pending work. "But the natural drainage system is hampered as land acquisition has not been completed because of litigation. Nearly 700 acres of land is supposed to be acquired... Now, we are awaiting clearance. Once it is done, the work at NPKL will be completed."