BENGALURU: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike could have prevented the flooding of some parts of the city during the recent rain to some extent if it had acted on the directions from Upa Lokayukta Justice N Ananda.
It has come to light that the Lokayukta Registrar had written to the BBMP Commissioner on May 24, following directions from Justice Ananda, focusing on the possible threat to lives and steps to be taken to prevent any disaster. A reminder was sent to the Commissioner in response to a complaint regarding silt accumulated in a rajakaluve leading from a waste weir of Mahadevapura Tank to Survey No.7 in Ward No.81.
Lokayukta sources said that it was found that the rajakaluve in question, leading towards Venkateshwara Layout, had been blocked as a road was formed over it by the developer of Venkateshwara Layout. A complaint was lodged with the Upa Lokayukta.
Accordingly, the Assistant Engineer, Assistant Executive Engineer and Executive Engineer with jurisdiction ove Ward No. 81 in Mahadevapura had appeared for hearing before the enquiry officer of Lokayukta on April 25.
During the hearing, they submitted that they would bring the facts to the notice of the Joint Commissioner of Mahadevapura zone to take necessary steps for removal of silt in the rajakaluve. However, during the hearing on May 23, the authorities failed to submit a report as promised on April 25.
“The officers did not take any steps for removal of silt in the rajakaluve. The encroachment of the rajakaluve has led to disasters with consequences such as loss of human lives,” the registrar stated in the letter addressed to the BBMP Commissioner.
The registrar had also asked the BBMP commissioner to take immediate remedial measures required to prevent further illegal activities and disasters and also to prevent private individuals from dealing with public amenities such as rajakaluves and other Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike properties.
The Registrar had also sought steps to restore the rajakaluve and submit an action taken report. However, no report was submitted to the Upa Lokayukta by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike even after over two months, sources said.
When contacted, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad said that he has now instructed the joint Commissioner of Mahadevapura to take action and submit a report by Monday.