With the monsoon approaching, the newly formed Bengaluru city corporations have intensified preparedness measures, focusing on stormwater drain maintenance, road repairs, waste clearance, and identification of dangerous structures to prevent flooding and rain-related incidents across the city.
Pommala Sunil Kumar, commissioner of the North City Corporation, held a review meeting on Tuesday and directed officials to complete the desilting works of all stormwater drains and canals before the onset of the rains.
The commissioner told the officials to clear the accumulation of silt and garbage in drains as a priority, as it obstructs the free flow of rainwater. He also directed officials to clear roadside garbage heaps and prevent waste dumping into major drains.
He asked the officials to direct commercial establishments to ensure proper disposal of waste generated by their businesses. The commissioner further asked engineers, health officers, and sanitation staff to work in coordination with each other and take personal responsibility in resolving civic issues within their jurisdiction.
Mr. Kumar also emphasised the need for maintenance of arterial and sub-arterial roads to prevent water stagnation during heavy rainfall. Officials were instructed to identify damaged roads, incomplete civic works, and dangerous buildings and report them immediately for further action. Notices will also be served to owners of unsafe structures to prevent accidents during the monsoon.
Meanwhile, the Bengaluru East City Corporation held a separate review meeting chaired by the commissioner, D.S. Ramesh, to assess the maintenance of major stormwater drains and infrastructure works undertaken under the Chief Minister’s infrastructure development programme grants.
The commissioner directed officials to prepare ward-wise action plans for stormwater drain maintenance and mandated desilting of drains once every three months. Around 35 km of concrete drains in the Mahadevapura zone and 45 km in the K.R. Puram zone will undergo maintenance works. Executive engineers were instructed to monitor the works continuously, fix daily cleaning targets, and submit before-and-after drone footage as proof of maintenance.
He also directed officials to inspect flood-prone areas and take precautionary measures to prevent flooding. Mr. Ramesh also instructed officials to immediately identify and remove dangerous buildings, compound walls, and retaining walls, warning that engineers concerned would be held directly responsible for any accidents caused by unsafe structures.
15-day deadline
Meanwhile, the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) on Tuesday convened a monsoon preparedness meeting to discuss the completion of priority works to ensure that there is no inconvenience to the public during the monsoon.
BWSSB chairman, Ram Prasath Manohar, directed officials to undertake precautionary measures and complete all sewer desilting works within the next 15 days.
He told the officials that preventing flooding in low-lying areas of the city and ensuring that manholes do not overflow should be the top priority. “The areas that are prone to rain-related damage must be identified immediately, and the cleaning of manholes along with desilting work must be mandatorily completed within the next 15 days,” he instructed.
Dr. Manohar emphasised that strict measures must be taken to ensure that rainwater does not enter the sewerage system. “Zonal Chief Engineers should not confine themselves to office work. They must personally visit field locations and conduct physical inspections of the ongoing works. It is also mandatory to submit comprehensive reports to the central office regarding the precautionary measures undertaken,” he said.
He also stated that the system must remain fully prepared to respond immediately in case of manhole blockages or any other issues during the monsoon. “For this purpose, a dedicated emergency response team must be kept ready under each corporation's jurisdiction. Public grievances must be addressed without delay and resolved promptly,” he said.