Master plan to expands stormwater drain network will be drafted

The extensive flooding in many parts of the Yelahanka and Byatarayanapura assembly constituencies has been blamed on unusually heavy rains that fell in a matter of hours, as well as a limited stormwater drainage system.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said he had directed officials to draught a master plan to widen rajakaluves and build diversion canals to address the problem of flooding while inspecting the rain-affected Kendriya Vihar, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), and the Manyata Tech Park on Tuesday.

Many lakes in Yelahanka had overflowed due to the heavy rains.

Bommai said that the existing rajakaluves are narrow, with widths ranging from eight to 10 ft. This is insufficient to carry the massive amount of waste.

Yelahanka Lake, which is connected to 11 other lakes upstream, was the source of the problem. Bommai informed that the heavy rains had caused overflow from all of the lakes to Yelahanka Lake, which has two narrow rajakaluves that are either choked or encroached at various points. These drains would need to be at least 30 ft wide. Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) could be used to acquire the required land.

After assessing the situation at the Kendriya Vihar residential complex, which houses 603 flats, Bommai said the government would work with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to build a drain across the highway. Floodwaters flow through Yelahanka Lake, Jakkur Lake, Rachenahalli Lake, and then to K.R. Puram, where they join the Pinakini before entering Tamil Nadu.

Apart from widening and clearing encroachments, the government recently directed the civic body to strengthen and remodel 50 km of rajakaluves.

According to Mr Bommai, the BBMP discovered 714 illegal structures on the rajakaluves. Those from lower socioeconomic groups would be rehabilitated, while others would be given time to vacate their properties before their structures were demolished.

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