K J George, BBMP team tour city 4 days after flood, get an earful from residents

BENGALURU: Four days after heavy rain battered south and east Bengaluru localities, minister K J George on Saturday chose to take stock of the situation. What awaited him in areas where rain had left a trail of destruction was an angry crowds which not only took the minister to task for coming late but also for not preparing the city for monsoon. “Yella mugidmele eega yake bandidira? (Why have you come now after everything got over), they asked him.
Residents were not ready to buy his claims that flooding was due to record rainfall and because it was a low-lying area. People in ST Bed area of Koramangala, where drains are clogged with garbage and sludge, reasoned that inordinate delay in completing drain works by the BBMP caused havoc. They forced George and transport minister and BTM Layout MLA Ramalinga Reddy, mayor G Padmavathi and BBMP officials to walk around the localities to understand the ground situation. On August 18, TOI had highlighted the shoddy drain works in Koramangala.
“Whenever it rains, there will be 5 to 8ft water in our locality. Murky water entered houses through gaps left in the drains while taking up repair works. Not just furniture, many vehicles were damaged. We want compensation,” rued a resident.
Finally, George had to request the residents to allow him to speak. He claimed the damage to roads and other properties will be fixed in 10 days. Ramalinga Reddy said they’re assessing the loss and the affected will be compensated.
In Shantinagar as well, the team was gagged by residents. George claimed that he had visited some areas soon after the rain and now he has come for a detailed inspection.
Officials told to expedite works
After visiting flood-hit areas like JC Road, Anepalya, Wilson Garden, Shantinagar and Ejipura, the minister directed officials to complete drain works on a war footing. He told the media that the works will be over by this year. Temporary measures will be taken to prevent rainwater entering the houses, he added.
At Ejipura, George blamed the previous governments for neglecting storm water drains in the city. “Using Rs 800 crore, we are remodelling the drains. We have set right 200 km of the 840-km SWD network and another 200 km will be ready by this year end. This will give relief to many localities and next year, we will deal with the remaining 440 km,” he added.
This time, there was no flooding in areas like Gali Anjaneya Temple along Mysuru Road, Kino Theatre Junction near Majestic and areas in Seshadripuram where drains have been remodelled, he added.