BENGALURU: In his first-ever meeting with BBMP officials, newly elected mayor B N Manjunath Reddy on Monday directed officials to clear encroachments from storm water drains (SWDs) across the city.
The mayor met SWD and accounts officials, engineers and others. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the mayor said he had discussed the need to save SWDs with the officials. “I have asked officials to give an idea on the status of drain encroachments,” he said.
He added that at present, BBMP authorities were constructing compounds in 80 different places. SWDs in the newly added zones of BBMP area have been encroached upon more, he said. “These areas belong to the state government and a list of these places has been prepared with the help of the Bengaluru Urban DC. We have asked them to submit a copy to BBMP,” he said.
The mayor said that builders build on the SWDs, but this will affect the people who live there in the near future. “I have asked the BBMP Commissioner to identify such places. These encroachments will be removed by the Bengaluru DC team. If necessary, we are ready to help them with men and machinery,” he said.
On Waste
The mayor Reddy, on Monday, also spoke to students of Maharani Women’s College and urged them to help the BBMP by taking the message of ‘segregate waste and save the environment’ back home.
Speaking at an event organised by NSUI, Lions Club and Maharani Women’s College Students Association on Monday, he said, “The city has a big challenge that is of garbage and this problem can be solved only by cooperation from all,” he said.
Like the residents of the city, even Bingipura residents have a right to live in a good atmosphere and women can spread the message of cutting down on use of plastic, he said.