East, North corpns step up flood-mitigation measures

Bengaluru: The Bengaluru East and North city corporations have intensified flood-mitigation measures following heavy rain, identifying vulnerable locations, deploying temporary pumps and taking up permanent works to improve rainwater flow.Bengaluru East City Corporation Commissioner DS Ramesh said officials were examining the cause of waterlogging at each location and coordinating with the departments concerned on long-term solutions. Railway works, B-SMILE and High Density Corridor projects, disconnected stormwater drains, inadequate culverts and low-lying terrain have affected water flow in several areas.At the Panathur railway underpass, railway double-line works and buffer road construction have obstructed the natural flow of rainwater. Land constraints have also made it difficult to establish a proper drain alignment.At the Hoodi railway underpass, water is being pumped out temporarily, while railway officials have been asked to clear silt from a pipeline. A larger pipe and gradient correction have been proposed as permanent measures.Inter-state counterfeit currency racket busted in Bengaluru; seven arrested, 4,337 fake Rs 500 notes seizedIn Spice Garden, two of three drain vents are blocked by garbage, debris and a fallen slab. Desilting and removal of the obstructions are planned. A new culvert has been proposed near the Geddalahalli railway bridge on Hennur–Bagalur Road, where a narrow vent has caused water accumulation.The corporation is also preparing drainage works near Samhita Serenity Apartments and has proposed a joint survey with the BDA to address backflow in low-lying Kothanur. At Doddanekkundi underpass, a one-foot pipe was replaced with a three-foot Hume pipe and new chambers, officials said.In North Bengaluru, a 1.6-km canal linking Veerannapalya Service Road with the main Hebbal channel has addressed chronic flooding near Manyata Tech Park and the Outer Ring Road. No flooding was reported there despite 75–80 mm of rain on September 30, the corporation claimed.Other works include drain connections between Attur and Puttenahalli Lake, a new culvert in HBR Layout and retaining walls and automatic pumps in Tata Nagar, Dynasty Layout and Defence Layout. Control rooms and flood-management teams will function round the clock during rainfall.

Source: Deccan Herald