BENGALURU: Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) Chief Commissioner M Maheshwar Rao instructed officials to complete the development works of stormwater drains (rajakaluves) in the city before the onset of the monsoon.
His direction comes in the backdrop of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitor Centre predicting summer showers in Bengaluru for the next few days.
He made these remarks while inspecting the progress of stormwater drain development works taken up across various locations under the jurisdiction of Bengaluru North City Corporation on Wednesday.
“The works are being carried out with funding of Rs 175 crore under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) and Rs 2000 crore under the World Bank-assisted Karnataka Water Security and Resilience Programme (KWSRP). The officials must expedite the ongoing development of stormwater drains connecting one lake to another and ensure completion before the pre-monsoon rains expected to begin in May,” he said.
Officials were instructed to adopt nature-based solutions to prevent sewage from entering city lakes. A wetland has already been developed at Jakkur Lake using a nature-based model. Similar models should be implemented in other lakes to ensure that only treated water flows into them, he stated.
The Chief Commissioner directed that all new stormwater drain projects should prioritise nature-based approaches. Plants such as Colocasia and Canna indica, which help absorb and purify wastewater, should be planted.
During inspection of the 1.1 km stormwater drain development from Srinivasapura Lake to Kogilu Lake, he reviewed the wetland at the lake and instructed its development to prevent sewage inflow. He also directed officials to install a sluice gate at Kogilu Lake before the monsoon. “Rejuvenation works of Srinivasapura Lake be taken up on priority and completed before the rainy season,” he stressed.
After taking input on the stormwater drain at Bellahalli-Kannur, Rao explained that a new 660-metre stormwater drain is being constructed from Bellahalli Lake to Kannur Lake, following a land survey and marking of the alignment. He said that this will help resolve flooding issues in the area.
He instructed officials to make the buffer zone along the stormwater drain on Dasarahalli Main Road pedestrian-friendly.